The Catholic Archbishop of La-
gos, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Ade-
wale Martins has condemned in
very strong terms the continu-
ous attacks on Nigerians in particular and
other Africans in South Africa, describing
such attacks as barbaric, reprehensible
and an attack on the very core of African
brotherhood.
Reacting to the recent onslaught on Ni-
gerians by some South African nationals
which led to the loss of lives of Nigerians
and nationals of other African countries
as well as the vandalization and looting of
their business interests in the country, the
Prelate described as too little and ineffec-
tive the manner the Federal Government
has handled the issue.
In a release signed by the Acting Direc-
tor of Social Communications, Rev Fr
Anthony Godonu, Archbishop Martins
noted that the failure of the Federal Gov-
ernment to decisively deal with the issue
using very strong diplomatic means con-
tinues to embolden the perpetrators and
makes the South African government
not to do enough to stem the tide of the
attacks. That South African Police officials
are seen publicly rousing peoples’ anger
against foreigners in their country without
any visible repercussion gives an impres-
sion of some official endorsement of the
mob action and our government needs to
pursue this to its logical conclusion.
“It is the responsibility of every govern-
ment to protect the lives and properties of
its citizens within and outside the country.
Any attack on Nigerian citizens should
elicit a swift response from the govern-
ment not to talk of them being killed with
impunity.
“The insufficient response of our Gov-
ernment in confronting the matter with
the seriousness it deserves does not
project us in a good light as a country
that cares enough for the welfare of its
citizens. My fear is that if decisive diplo-
matic measures are not taken now, this
matter may go out of hand with enor-
mous consequences for all.”
Recalling the frontline role Nigeria
played in bringing an end to the obnox-
ious apartheid policy in South Africa,
and the enormous financial and hu-
man resources deployed for that pur-
pose, Archbishop Martins wondered
why fellow blacks who had, and are
still benefiting from their relationship
with our nation have chosen to pay us
back by unleashing so much violence
against our citizens. This is not the kind
of South Africa that Nelson Mandela
labored for”
He further said, “this marks another
wake-up call for our leaders to work
even more assiduously so that the social
and economic situation of our nation can
be better such migration of our nationals,
legal or illegal, can be reduced and if peo-
ple who migrate get badly treated, they can
come back home fully assured that they
would be in good stead.”
The Archbishop however urged Nigeri-
ans in South Africa to continue to ensure
that they present the nation in a good light,
going about only legitimate businesses and
professions. In his own words, “I urge Ni-
gerians in South Africa to go about only
lawful activities in the country and desist
from criminal actions that tarnish the im-
age of the country.”
He also appealed to youths in Nigeria to
continue to show restraint and allow the
relevant government agencies to exhaust
all diplomatic means geared at stopping
the attacks and bringing the perpetrators
to book as soon as possible.
He discouraged any form of reprisal at-
tacks on organizations owned by South
Africans in Nigeria, saying that it does
not offer any solution to the problem. In
his words: “when we give in to the urge
to engage in reprisal attacks, how differ-
ent are we from those perpetuate these
crimes against humanity? An eye for an
eye eventually leaves everyone blind”