…….. Derides Nigerian government over the missing Chibok girls, death of 68 South Africans in collapsed Synagogue Church
The recall of the High Commissioners to South Africa has not gone down well with South African authorities as they have cast aside diplomatic language and called for a street fight with Nigeria.
It taunted the Goodluck Jonathan government over the abducted Chibok girls, reminded the country of the building collapse at the church of Pastor Temitope Joshua in Lagos, in which 68 South Africans died, and the ill manner that it said the bodies of the dead victims were kept.
The South African government promised to take the matter up with the incoming federal administration in Nigeria. Xenophobic attacks by South Africans on fellow Africans in the last few weeks led to the death of at least seven people.
Shops of foreigners, including Nigerians, were looted while those who survived physical brutality currently live in fear.
Last Saturday, the Federal Government recalled the country’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Martin Cobham, and his deputy, UcheOkeke. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, AminuWali, who announced the recall via a press statement, said that the envoys were being withdrawn for consultations in relation to the xenophobic attacks.
The statement read: “The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador AminuWali, has summoned for consultation, Nigeria’s senior diplomats on tour of duty in South Africa. These are the Acting High Commissioner in Pretoria, Ambassador Martin Cobham, and the Deputy High Commissioner in Johannesburg, Ambassador UcheAjulu-Okeke. “The invitation is in connection with the ongoing xenophobia in South Africa targeting foreigners, mainly African migrants.
“It will be recalled that the current spate of attacks began about three weeks ago, and have so far claimed some seven lives, destruction of property and created fear and uncertainty in the minds of African migrants in the former apartheid enclave.
“The South African President, Mr. Jacob Zuma, has condemned the attacks in a statement presented to the South African National Assembly. Ditto for the Zulu Monarch, Goodwill Zwelithini, whose alleged inciting comment provoked the attacks.
Well-meaning South Africans have also organised peace marches against xenophobia.” But, barely 24 hours after, the South African government on Sunday reacted angrily to the Nigerian government’s decision.
“The South African government takes note that the outgoing government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has recalled its acting high commissioner to South Africa,” read a statement issued by Clayson Monyela, spokesperson of the department of international relations and cooperation.
“A government resorts to such an extraordinary diplomatic step to express outrage at actions or behaviour of another government.
“We are not sure which actions or behaviour of the South African Government the Nigerian Government is protesting,” the South African foreign ministry said in a statement.
“If this action is based on the incidents of attacks on foreign nationals in some parts of our country, it would be curious for a sisterly country to want to exploit such a painful episode for whatever agenda,” the ministry added, lamenting Nigeria’s “unfortunate and regrettable step.”
“We will raise our concerns through diplomatic channels with the new administration that will assume office in Nigeria next month.”
In a manner that appears to be a mockery of government’s handling of the insurgency in the country, the statement added that South Africa has been able to bring the xenophobic attack under control and has been receiving support from other African countries.
“Through our interventions, relative calm and order has been restored,” the statement read.
“We are encouraged by the solidarity our country continues to receive from other African countries and the international community.
“We shall also continue to support and not blame the Nigerian government as it battles to deal with Boko Haram that continues to kill many innocent civilians. We hope that the more than 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram will someday be reunited with their families.”
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