Atiku Faults Federal Government's Weak Response To Xenophobic Attacks In West Africa
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has pooh-poohed the Federal Government's weak response to the xenophobic attacks of Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has pooh-poohed the Federal Government's weak response to the xenophobic attacks of Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.
Atiku spoke in a statement on Sunday, signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, noting that President Bola Tinubu's administration was always slow in responding to issues affecting its citizens, including the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
According to Atiku, while Nigeria likes to pride itself as the giant of Africa, other countries were always quick to take decisive action on matters, as the Federal Government usually reacted belatedly, instead of leading in moments of continental crisis.
The former Vice President further lamented that smaller nations like Ghana have acted decisively in protecting their citizens, by evacuating over 300 distressed citizens following the latest xenophobic threats, while Nigeria appeared paralysed, reactive, and stripped of the urgency the moment demanded, with her belated response.
His words, “It is deeply troubling that Nigeria, a country that prides itself as the leader of the Black world and the giant of Africa, once again found itself reacting instead of leading in a moment of continental crisis.
“When the first signs of danger emerged, smaller African nations acted with clarity, compassion, and urgency. Ghana moved decisively. Others issued strong advisories and activated protective mechanisms for their nationals. But Nigeria, whose citizens have historically borne the brunt of xenophobic violence in South Africa, moved with the lethargy that has become the defining trademark of this administration.
His words, “It is deeply troubling that Nigeria, a country that prides itself as the leader of the Black world and the giant of Africa, once again found itself reacting instead of leading in a moment of continental crisis.
“When the first signs of danger emerged, smaller African nations acted with clarity, compassion, and urgency. Ghana moved decisively. Others issued strong advisories and activated protective mechanisms for their nationals. But Nigeria, whose citizens have historically borne the brunt of xenophobic violence in South Africa, moved with the lethargy that has become the defining trademark of this administration.
"This is not about whether the government eventually responded. It is about whether that response reflected the urgency, seriousness, and leadership expected of a responsible government. By every objective standard, it did not
“A government that waits until other nations have taken the lead before acting sends a dangerous signal. It is frankly humiliating that Ghana, with far fewer diplomatic resources and citizens abroad, projected stronger leadership and clearer compassion than Nigeria in this moment..."
He further pointed out that, Nigerians in South Africa have had to endure cycles of intimidation, looting, harassment, and xenophobic hostility that have destroyed businesses, endangered lives, and left families gripped by fear, pointing out that Nigeria only “Summon diplomats, issue cautious statements, and retreat into bureaucratic inertia until the next crisis erupts.”
“A government that waits until other nations have taken the lead before acting sends a dangerous signal. It is frankly humiliating that Ghana, with far fewer diplomatic resources and citizens abroad, projected stronger leadership and clearer compassion than Nigeria in this moment..."
He further pointed out that, Nigerians in South Africa have had to endure cycles of intimidation, looting, harassment, and xenophobic hostility that have destroyed businesses, endangered lives, and left families gripped by fear, pointing out that Nigeria only “Summon diplomats, issue cautious statements, and retreat into bureaucratic inertia until the next crisis erupts.”
Way Forward
Atiku stressed that the Federal Government must take concrete steps, including issuing robust and unambiguous travel advisory, activating efficient evacuation arrangements for willing citizens, as well as intensifying diplomatic engagement with South African authorities, and rallying the African Union towards a lasting continental framework against recurring xenophobic violence in the former apartheid regime.
He then urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to shed what he described as its habitual slow- footedness by rising to the demands of a moment in which both lives and national dignity were both at stake.
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