Xenophobia: Nigerians Call for Boycott of South African Businesses ...Fmr. NIIA Boss postulates on principle of retortion on Arise TV ...NANS give seven days ultimatum to SA

...Lagos Police dispel protesters, beef up security around SA businesses

Nigerians have called for a boycott of South African-owned businesses in the country in the wake of the xenophobic attacks against their compatriots and the seeming laxity of the federal government in addressing the issue. 

Buttressing their stance, they noted that if they boycott the over 120 SA-owned businesses in Nigeria, it would drive home the point that the country would henceforth no longer tolerate the ill-treatment meted out to its citizens. 

Chief among the companies they are canvassing for its boycott are MTN, Woolworths, PEP Stores, Mr. Price, DSTV, Stanbic IBTC and Shoprite. 

Championing the cause, Twitter favourite and popular philanthropist @Mathewamad said: “I have just asked our accountant to close all our accounts in Stanbic IBTC. What are you still waiting for?”

@Vykon said: “I'm sure getting a Glo line today. Once my DSTV expires, no subbing again. Shoprite has never been my thing so I will stick to Next cash and carry.“

@Favvyevy said: “I have spoilt my @DStvNg card and I am not @MTNNG user. I have told  all my siblings and family to join me. Enough is Enough.”

@ClassicNedu said: “Fellow Nigerians, we have TSTV, we have GLO and we have Ebeano. They can't be killing us yet generating huge income off Nigerians. I think it's time we boycott DSTV, MTN and Shoprite.

“We need to also stop them from attending Synagogue church. We can't be praying and healing them while they're killing us.”

@GidiOracle said: “I just called off a contract with a South African based company this morning. Your people can't be killing my people and you want my company in business with you...South African trip cancelled !!!! #Xenophobia #SAShutdown #XenophobicAttack

Principle of Retortion

Also on the Arise TV Morning Show monitored by THISDAY, former Director General, Nigerian Institute of InternationalAffairs (NIIA), Professor Bola Akinterinwa, said one must understand the underlying factors responsible for xenophobia before coming up with solutions. 

He said: “My position is that you cannot come up with any recommendations if we do not understand clearly and in context, what is responsible for xenophobic attacks. 

“There are failures at various levels; whether at the level of responsibility or the level of perception of Nigeria.  

“If the issue is to simply prescribe on the basis of what I am trying to say, the first approach should be the application of the rule of responsibility, especially in terms of retortion.

“When Gbenga Ashiru was foreign minister, why did South Africa accept to comply, and give us minimum respect? There was a time that 175 Nigerians were deported from South Africa because of non-possession of yellow cards, when we reciprocated, what happened?

“When we talk about reciprocity, I have always explained that there are two sides to it, retortion and reprisal. Retortion yes; but reprisal, not now, reprisal would involve the use of force.

“But as it is, especially when I was talking about xenophobia for Nigerians, September 1, 2019, just two days ago, DSTV came up with cut in prices in many countries of Africa, Nigeria was not included. 

“The argument was pegged on inflation in Nigeria and environmental conditions in Nigeria are different. There is nothing any South African business in Nigeria would consider Nigeria in terms of favour that is conceded to all others. 

“This same DSTV had problem with the consumer protection council in Nigeria. The matter was referred to court; the court ruled that DSTV should comply, but it didn’t. And nothing has been done at the level of foreign policy. MTN we know what happened.

“The point I am making is that you don’t talk about the principles of good neighbourliness that does not go along with reciprocal treatment. We have seen the case of Donald Trump issue of visa with Nigeria. That is how international relations is managed and conducted.

“Now, let’s go beyond reciprocity which is at the level of the state of Nigeria. At the level of the African Union, it has become necessary to prevail on all other African countries to deport or send back all South Africans in other African countries. Let them go back to their land. 

“The reason is this, you cannot be preaching the sermon of regional continental integration on the one hand; Tagbo Mbezki cannot be talking about African renaissance on the one hand, and at the end of the day, the Africans that are coming, and integrate to stay in South Africa on the basis of being African compatriots, you send them away.

“And even if you want to send them away if you do not want them, why should you destroy, why should you kill them. Why must you attack their properties? So this is the issue.”

Nigerians React

Celebrities and Nigerians alike were also unequivocal in their stance against the attacks on their compatriots. 

Nigerian music star, Ayodeji Balogun popularly known as Wizkid said: “It is disheartening to watch these videos from my home! You’re fighting the wrong war, fighting the wrong people. 

“How do we walk around hating each other? Africa is one! We’re all the same people! Please don’t lose yourself! #SayNoToXenophobia One Love! God deliver us from mental slavery!”

@Dullah Draxler said: “We're trying to remind you S.Africans who are killing your own kind, burning your own kind without fear. It really hurts to see the country which has been helped by its fellow nations for independence, today are trying to kill the same people. God will repay you #SayNoToXenophobia.”

Desmond Chukwuji said: “How could you burn your fellow Africa brothers for just believing he is your problem? How I wish Mandela was alive to see how the people he went to jail for turned out to be this. How did you forget so soon that Nigeria also fought for your freedom?”

NANS’ Ultimatum 

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in a video that has gone viral gave a seven-day ultimatum to SA businesses to leave Nigeria.

NANS President, Danielson Bamidele Akpan, said the ultimatum stands if the government does not urgently handle the extreme conditions against the foreign nationals.

He said: “Nigerian students are not joking about it, and we are giving a seven days ultimatum for this action to be carried out.”

Police Beef up Security in Lagos

Following plans to protest at prominent SA-owned businesses in Lagos, operatives of the Lagos State Police Command immediately dispelled the protesters.

Some angry Nigerians had gathered at Shoprite stores in Ajah, and Ikeja to protest but were quickly dispelled by the police. 

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana said the command has beefed up security around all SA-owned businesses in the state. 

He also debunked allegations that Nigerians had carried out violent attacks at Shoprite stores across the state. 

According to him, at the first wind of trouble, the police had immediately deployed its operatives across the board to nip the protests in the bud and secure the companies. 

He said: “I can tell you that no SA business was destroyed. We deployed our men to secure the properties.”