Recall High Commissioner to SA, Agbakoba tell FG

Olisa Agbakoba

A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba, has asked the Federal Government to recall the Nigerian High Commissioner in South Africa in the light of the wave of xenophobic attacks across the country.

Agbakoba, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said this in a statement on Tuesday.

“The Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa should be recalled. Our foreign minister should summon the South African commissioner in Nigeria to convey our disappointment at the behaviour of some South Africans,” he said.

Agbakoba said it was unfortunate that Nigeria, which he said helped South Africa to overcome apartheid and other social vices, had become the victim of several attacks over the years.

He blamed the Federal Government for treating the issue with kid gloves even as he also slammed the South African President, Jacob Zuma, for not doing enough.

He said, “All Nigerians condemn in the strongest possible terms the completely unwarranted and unprovoked attack on Nigerians in South Africa. There can be no excuse for this outrageous behaviour, especially in the context of good neighbourly relations between South Africa and Nigeria.

“Nigeria stood by their South African brothers and sisters at their greatest hour of need during the apartheid years. This is no way to repay us. It is shocking that President Zuma has not made a clear statement. I feel the response of the Nigerian government has been very weak.

“The South African government must know that xenophobic behaviour of its people is not acceptable to Nigerians and it will have the gravest consequences for Nigerian- South African relations, unless they stop their inexcusable behaviour.”