Photo credit: the Punch
Yeah! It’s a fact that Nigeria was at the forefront of nations that fought for South African freedom.
That Nigerians are getting a rough deal in South Africa is no secret.
But then, could we look at things in their proper perspective?
Before Nigerians got into South Africa, there had been drugs, possibly not the exotic drugs like cocaine, heroin, etc.
But then there were drugs.
Is it a fact that the average South African doesn’t work? People say they would rather feed off the women.
Did Nigerians introduce the higher drugs to South Africa? Did they start to introduce South African school girls into drugs?
Drug taking, as we all know it, is a habit – an expensive one. Is it a fact or not that after the poor school girls get introduced into drugs, they could do anything, including prostitution and stealing, to get their daily ‘shots’?
Isn’t it a fact that many Nigerians, after succeeding in drugs take over South African housewives whom they spoil with unusual kindness?
Is it a fact that in a section of Nigeria, there’s hardly any week that a corpse would not be brought home from South Africa after the person had been killed in a drug war?
Is it not possible that all these culminated in the present xenophobic attacks in South Africa?
Unfortunately, in a jungle justice, most of the people affected wouldn’t have seen it coming.
Those businesses being affected in South Africa could be those of innocent people. The reprisal attacks in Nigeria too could be baseless.
Baseless because when one really looks at the fact on ground, the houses being burned are Nigerian owned. Even the businesses are only franchises, so the real owners are Nigerians.
The people working in those businesses are mainly Nigerians. When a business is no more, the effects on the workers are better imagined.
I should think the best bet would be for the governments of Nigeria and South Africa to find a way of meeting and reaching agreements on how best to deal with the situation on ground.
Each case should be treated on its merit.
Justice and tolerance will, no doubt, solve the problems!
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