By Paul Onomuakpokpo
What eminently
captures the tragedy of contemporary Nigeria is that its citizens who
lack a huge helping from the national treasury are vulnerable to being haunted
at home and abroad. Overwhelmed by the hostility of their home country sired by
decades of the monumental failure of government, they go overseas with the hope
of finding succour. But here a bleaker fate awaits them as their supposed host
becomes their haunter.
Nigerians could bear
their tragic lot if there were no expectations of warm reception in the first
place. And these expectations were by no means misplaced. In the case of
Nigerians in South Africa
they justifiably expected to be treated well. Clearly, Nigerians who are in South Africa
have only gone to reap where their country has sown. The resources of Nigeria were
used to secure South Africans freedom from the apartheid stranglehold.
Notwithstanding,
Nigerians have not asked to be allowed to enjoy the benefits of staying in South Africa
without bringing their own contributions to the development of the society.
Most of the Nigerians who are being harassed are effectively contributing to
the economy of their host country. They are running their legitimate
businesses. It is these businesses and the lives of Nigerians that often come
under attacks. If there were some Nigerians who violated the laws of South Africa,
these should be punished and every Nigerian should not be treated as a villain.
But we should be alert to the possibility that these recurring attacks are
being provoked by South Africans’ envy of the success of their guests. Or why
do these South Africans often target Nigerians’ shops for looting?
The South Africans who do not know how to use their post-apartheid freedom over
two decades after blacks took the reins of governance should be humble enough
to ask enterprising Nigerians in their midst to teach them how to be successful
in their own country. South Africans should not blame Nigerians if their lack
of competitiveness makes the latter to take over their jobs. If these
attack-obsessed South Africans were profitably engaged, they would not have the
time to trouble Nigerians. So instead of being befuddled by the allegations of
Nigerians being criminals, prostitutes and drug dealers, the South African
government should find ways to profitably engage its citizens.
Optimism about an easy
resolution of this crisis would not have been out of place if it were only the
younger generation who do not know their history that are responsible for the
xenophobic attacks. But apparently, these young people are perpetrating these
attacks with tacit official approval. This explains why when these attacks
occur, the police do not come to the rescue of Nigerians. Apparently, the
police see these attacks as a fulfillment of their wish that Nigerians be
subjected to such brutalities. This is because the South African police have on
several occasions brutalised Nigerians to death.
