Strengthening S’Africa, Nigeria Diplomatic Ties

The Nigerian Consul General in Johannesburg, South Africa, Mr Okey Emuchay, recently cried foul over what he described as the increasing xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in that country.
Speaking in Springbok, Northern Province of South Africa, the Consul General said no fewer than 23 Nigerians were forced out of their homes and chased out of Port-Nolloth community on May 26, 2013 by some South Africans over accusations bordering on drugs peddling.
One of the victims and spokesperson of the Nigerian community, Mr. Diliora Ndubuisi, further disclosed that the leaders of the youth wing of the African National Congress (ANC) in the area, instigated some community members to evict them from their homes, after a meeting they held the previous day over sale and usage of drugs. At least one Nigerian was seriously beaten in the incident and was hospitalised.
That form of hostility would not be the first. Infact Nigeria-South Africa relations got sour after the questionable deportation of 125 Nigerians from South Africa in February last year. But in her characteristic ‘brothers- keeper’ attitude, Nigeria swallowed the pills and finally normalized relations with Pretoria.
The recent attack is coming barely two weeks after President Goodluck Jonathan had paid a visit to South Africa following a similar one day working visit by President Jacob Zuma to Nigeria both of which had resulted in the signing of nine Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to promote trade and investment between both countries.
If governments of both countries, at the top level are working together to strengthen relations, the people should be encouraged to take full advantage of the bilateral cooperation in various ways including business, cultural and interpersonal relations.
This is because, Nigeria and South Africa have had a long history of friendship and cordial relationship especially from the apartheid era when Nigeria played a significant role in freeing the country from colonial domination. During those trying moments in South Africa, Nigeria was one of the foremost supporters of Black South African liberation movements, including the African National Congress which today runs the government.
In those trying times, the Nigerian government among other bilateral gestures, issued more than 300 passports to South Africans seeking to travel abroad. And following the end of apartheid in 1994, South African businesses sought the expertise of Nigerian professionals to rebuild structures, and for which a large number of Nigerians responded positively. With all these, rather than boost friendship and better understanding much of the goodwill Nigeria ought to enjoy has instead been rewarded with hostility. This is unacceptable and should be checked.
To avoid further deterioration of relations and  further strengthen bilateral ties, the government of South Africa must rise up to her responsibility of protecting lives and properties of Nigerians in that country just as Nigeria has continued to protect South African citizens in Nigeria.
The frequent xenophobic attacks and ill-treatment against Nigerians can send a wrong signal not only to the world that today, looks up to Nigeria and South Africa for leadership in the continent, as Africa’s two biggest economics, but also to Nigerians that they are not wanted in South Africa.
A situation where a Nigerian is accused of crimes, chased out of his home, only to have the same home looted by the accusers is much more criminal. Even baffling is the tacit support which the South African Police appears to be giving to their intolerant and chauvinistic nationals while they perpetrate violence against Nigerians.
Despite a lack of dependable, data, xenophobic violence is perceived to have significantly increased, since South Africa’s  return to democratic government in 1994  with the authorities doing little to weigh the magnitude of the threat same poses to communities and individuals.
The Nigerian authorities must no longer fold their arms while their citizens are molested and maltreated in South Africa. She must pressure South African authorities to educate their citizens and security agencies on the fact that humanity is one and people should be treated with equal dignity and respect no matter where they come from. Surely, it is the responsibility of the South African government not the Nigerian police, to offer protection to Nigerians living in South Africa.
A strong tie between Nigeria and South Africa must be based on mutual respect and reciprocity.