First protest against xenophobia could be dated back to 2015 ,following attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa, but that was not the first time Nigerians have been victims of violence in South Africa.
Between 2016-2018 alone, over 118 Nigerians have been reportedly murdered in dastardly manner of Xenophobia with businesses and properties belonged to foreigners mostly Nigerians destroyed.
It started all over again this year 2019 in 3rd of February , when a Nigerian in his 20s was cruelly murdered by S/Africa Police, since then, Nigeria has continued to experience different forms of xenophobic attacks in the hands of South Africans.
However, it is inhuman cum degradation of humanity of the highest order on the part of South Africa to be oblivion of the large sacrifice and significant roles Nigeria played to bail them out of the slavery hands of colonial masters.
After more than 100 years that South Africa had been languishing in the apartheid regime,Nigeria came up in the spirit of brotherliness to render financial assistance and all other possible supports to enable freedom for South African.
In 1960,after Nigeria got her independence, it was discovered that black people were being massacred in Sharpevile, South Africa by the white apartheid police. Swift response of Nigeria leaders to the Sharpvile massacre positively changed the scenario in South Africa.
Nigeria Prime Minister then, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa on 4th of April 1961 sent a letter signified Nigeria readiness and commitment to fight against apartheid in South Africa..
Nigeria ,under Tafawa Balewa was the first African country to make a financial donation to African National Congress (ANC) in the early 1960s.
Nigeria , based on liberation movement in 1970s,singlehandedly contributed $5million annual subvention to the ANC and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) ,amount worth billions at the present rate.
Sir Balewa also strived for expulsion of South Africa from the Commonwealth in 1961 .
Subsequent regimes in Nigeria tolled the brotherly gesture stipulated during Balewa’s regime to get S/A out of sufferings.
.Military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo added $3.7m to the fund earlier contributed by his counterpart, Balewa. This is different from the personal donation of $3.000 by General Obasanjo ,with personal contribution of $1.500 each from the members of his cabinet.
All Civil servants in Nigeria and public officers made a 2percent donation from their monthly salary to the South Africa Fund Relief (SAFR).
Nigeria Students then forfeited their lunch in six months in June 1977 to make donations.
Financial contributions then generally totaled $10.5million.
In Nigeria, contribution to the SAFR then was tagged “Mandela Tax”
Nigeria also played a crucial intervention role when education system of S/A was disrupted at that time. South Africa then protested against apartheid decision ,to change their educational language to Africans. 700 students were brutalized by the white police.
Thus a first group of 86 S/A students came to Nigeria in 1976,while several others joined to study in Nigeria for free.
Many S/A leaders also found their touches in Nigeria. Leaders like former S/A President from 1999-2008,Thabo Mbeki, spent 7 years in Nigeria from 1977-1984,before he left for the ANC headquarters in Lusaka, Zambia.
Apartheid regime seized passports of more than 300 S/Africans ,thereby prevented them from traveling abroad. Nigeria government immediately issued over 300 passports to all of them.
Uncountable assistance by Nigeria to South Africa during Colour Bar, numerous to mention, all in the name of brotherliness.
It is surprising and laughable now that S/Africa is displaying their own coined – “apartheid” on their Benefactor-Nigeria.
The xenophobic display of South Africa to Nigeria could be likened to a scenario of a parent who have laboured extensively to raise a child, the child after becoming a full blown adult rise up to fight the parent. Transparently looking at the scenario, the xenophobic gesture of this country to Nigeria is a curse on the part of S/African as a Nation.
A nation where it’s people could have still been crawling for survival but the positive intervention of Nigeria during the malaise that bedeviled S/African in its own land.
For Nigeria citizens to now face a sort of humiliation, degradation, intimidation and agony in a supposedly brother-nation is a shame and symbol of abysmal ingratitude on the part of the people and government of South Africa.
Nigeria boycotted the 1976 Olympic Games and also Common wealth games in 1979 all in the bid of protest against apartheid in South Africa.
Nigerian refugees in Cameroon recently sought government assistance .Cameroonia President, Paul Biya through his Minister of Home Affairs stated that those Nigerians could not be forced to go back home without their intentions or plan to do so. “they can only go back to their country, if they so decided”
What an act of brotherliness!
If S/Africa claims “No” to xenophobic act, let the government /Stakeholders in the country called the so-called disgruntled elements in the society to order,because! the trending xenophobia, is capable of driving the country to extinction of developments.
No human society either developing or developed could be an island. Interdependence is sacrosanct to societal development.
Perpetrators of Xenophobia, in the interest of S/A need to be sensitized on either the idea of coexistence or the right of other Africans to live harmoniously and peacefully as law abiding residents in any country of their choice.
The South African government must prove responsible by making the perpetrators to face the wrath of law and serve as deterrents to others in order to put everlasting solution to xenophobia.