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The #BringBackOurGirls group has described one of its leaders,Dr Oby Ezekwesili, as a blessing to Chibok girls campaign as she celebrated her 52nd birthday yesterday.Aisha Yesufu said knowing Dr Ezekwesili has changed her life and belief in human being as her doggedness and determination, have contributed to the successes of the BBOG campaign.According to her, “ Aunty Oby made me believe in a New Nigeria. I had given up hope on my country, Nigeria. She gave me hope for a better Nigeria. I was almost giving up hope. Things weren’t going well and nothing was being done to correct it but when I encountered aunty Oby and this group, I had great hope for the future.”In the opinion of another member of the group, Maureen Kabric, “Dr Oby Ezekwesili has done a great deal for the movement and for humanity as a whole, even as she has brought a lot of hope for the Chibok parents and many victims of the insurgency in the Northeast.“No matter how they call her names. No matter what they write against her, she has always remained resolute. She has been revered outside the country. She has done incredibly for this movement, for Nigeria and for humanity.“I remember when we were banned from having our sit-out by Mbu and how she stood her ground. She has done a great deal for us in this movement. She has been a rock for all of us and we wish her well as she celebrates her birthday.”For, Jibo Ibrahim, a member of the group, in an article on Oby, read at the sit-out, said “one evening in June 1993, a certain Oby Ezekwesili walked into my house in the Samaru campus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where I was teaching. She demanded what we were doing to restore the stolen mandate of M.K.O. Abiola. I asked her who she was and the basis of this direct approach. ‘I got your contact from Shehu Yahaya, a mutual friend in the Lagos branch of Concerned Professionals,’ she said. What’s a bloody banker doing organising street protests all over the country I asked her? The moment the police tear-gassed and beat us up in Lagos Island for exercising our democratic right to protest, I realised that without citizen action the military will turn our country into a Banana Republic, we shall not allow that she insisted. Okay Oby, sits down, let’s share notes, strategise and create traction in the struggle for democracy.“22 years later, thinking she had been softened by ministerial appointments and World Bank vice presidency.

THE destructive attacks in South Africa on Nigerians and other sub-Saharan Africans are tragic and mindlessly wrong. The assaults sorely bruise the objective of inter-African harmony. They also put an eraser to the idyll of progress and domestic tranquility many people saw when gazing at South Africa.

The xenophobia is actually a lethal show of misdirected anger. The attacks point to deep, underlying ruptures within the South African political economy that actually have little to do with the presence of Nigerian or other Black Africans in that nation. Nigerians have become scapegoats in a fundamentally domestic struggle.

The Black populace is roiling because their economic plight has worsened since the end of apartheid. If prosperity had come to them, they would not have come to this. The political and economic accommodation between the traditionally White-controlled economic superstructure and the post-Mandela Black political elite is under challenge.

This model of governance has failed to make adequate provision for the bulk of the Black population. Due to his unique status, Mandela was able to give the Black population succour and hope while counseling them patience.

That great man is no longer there. Gone with him is the succour he gave and apparently the patience of the people. South Africans thus lashed out in frustration. They attacked Nigerians and other Africans not so much because our people were the cause of their woes.

They attacked our people because they could do so much easier than they could attack the actual sources of their ire and economic predicament. It is easier to destroy the wares of the local shopkeeper than to change the political economy.

The former merely requires an eruption of anger; the latter requires sustained political organization, vision and dedication. Thus, although they want political economic reform, all they did was to attack non-South Africans who provided goods and services to them at the neighborhood level.

While the government of South Africa may be questioned about its continued adherence to a political economic model that appears to have exceeded its best-use date, it is completely wrong to say the South African government had even a hand in instigating the unrest.

Thus, recalling the Nigerian High Commissioner is inappropriate and counterproductive. Instead of pulling the diplomat, Nigeria should name a high-level special envoy to visit the nation and engage directly with President Zuma. Nigeria should also send an Interagency Coordinated Action Team (ICAT) to South Africa to complement enhance efforts to provide consular services, liaison with police and security and ensure that affected Nigerians receive proper restitution. We should also talk to major South Africa businesses resident in Nigeria. It would help douse tensions and ill will here if they announced a plan to contribute to the restitution of affected Nigerians.

No recall: Some observers have questioned the swiftness and efficiency of the South African government’s response to the mayhem. Such is their right to do so. However, the South African government did not cause the problem. They had no reason for it. To blame the government is to increase tension and confusion, not douse them.

Tension and confusion


Recall of an envoy is usually prompted by an adverse act by the host government itself. It is not good practice to recall a High Commissioner for a tragedy the host government could not have prevented and one for which its appears to be working in good faith to end.

The recent social upheaval should be likened more to a natural disaster as the government had no proximate control over its eruption. To recall our High Commissioner might satisfy our sense of outrage; it would do little else, however.

The move implicitly signals to the South African government that we blame it for causing the outburst or for being negligent in the aftermath. Such a move would make it harder to encourage the South African government to act as we would like toward affected Nigerians.

The move we diminish our presence is the more we diminish the daily pressure on the government in Pretoria. The move we diminish the pressure is the less we can positively influence that government’s action. Pulling our envoy decreases not increases our diplomatic leverage in this particular circumstance.

Also, much of the world and many Nigerians in South Africa will perceive the move negatively; they will think we are abandoning our citizens during the height of their travail.  This might demoralize them to a material degree.

The absence of the High Commissioner for an appreciable period of time will undermine the efficacy of our diplomatic mission at the moment when that mission should be doing its utmost for that segment of our Diaspora in South Africa.

Special envoy: A more constructive step would be to designate a presidential special envoy to liaise directly with President Zuma and appropriate cabinet-level officials in South Africa. The official should be a well known statesman preferably with a prior relationship with President Zuma. A former head of state or someone like former Commonwealth Secretary Anyaoku would be ideal for the position. This step would underscore Nigeria’s concerns for its citizens abroad. It would also signal to the South Africans that this episode cannot simply be left to fade into memory as has happened in the past. The envoy would press to ensure that adequate security is availed the Nigerian community to prevent further incidents this time of tension. The Envoy would also explore ways the Nigerian community can be better integrated and accepted in South Africa. Most importantly, he will press the South African government to improve its ability to ensure such things do not repeat themselves on such a large scale.

Adequate security

ICAT: Complementing the efforts of the special envoy would be a working level Inter-Agency Coordinating Emergency Team (ICAT). The ICAT would be comprised of police and other security officers who would liaise with South African counterparts at the operational level to ensure adequate security for the Nigerian community and that the authors of violence will be apprehended.

The team would also have a strong consular component. Nigeria should use this as an opportunity to reach out to the Nigerian community in South Africa to get a better idea of its numerical dimensions and the locations where that community is most concentrated.

A warden or communication system should be established within the community so that people can be quickly apprised of emergency situations or major events. A small legal team with experience in comparative criminal and civil law should be part of the team. On one hand, the lawyers would check to make sure those arrested are to be prosecuted. The lawyers should also investigate the proposals for restitution the South African government will make for affected Nigerians.

South African businesses in Nigeria: To douse tensions here and show goodwill, major firms in the South African business community here should be encouraged to develop a fund to restitute affected Nigerians. This fund should be contributed to the Nigerian government.

Conclusion: In such a circumstances, our policy approach should not be determined by anger. Our policy should be founded on a wise, dispassionate assessment of how to best protect our countrymen when they are imperiled. Recalling our top envoy does nothing to protect them. We must do better and more than just express anger.

The steps outlined above – Special Envoy, ICAT and South African Business Restitution Fund – are practical actions that can actually help our people and the South African government. Nigeria and South Africa are the two major sub-Saharan African economies.

We should attempt to work cooperatively to the extent possible, even in tense times. This show of cooperation and assistance serves our longer-term strategic interests. We should extend our hand of cooperation because that is in the best interests of our people in South Africa. If the South Africans rebuff these or similar overtures, then we can examine the need to call home our High Commissioner. However, recall should have been the last resort not the first one

- See more at: http://247nigerianewsupdate.co/xenophobia-another-approach-to-the-south-african-attacks-by-asiwaju-bola-ahmed-tinubu/#sthash.mIprdeOd.dpuf

Xenophobia as being carried out by the Black South Africans is an undeserved insults to the sensibilities of the Africans, and advocacy groups and Nations across the globe that in the past pooled both human, defense and economic resources bankrolling the African National Congress, ANC, led anti-apartheid struggles against the white Afrikaners’ supremacist economy and anti-social leanings then making lives unbearable for the Black South Africans. It could be recalled that when South African blacks were been harshly persecuted and oppressed under the White Afrikaners racist apartheid rule Nigeria and other African nations and Black diasporas were at the vanguard of the anti-apartheid policy and rule until the Western powers and institutions supporting the White minority rule were beaten down. Thus, they saw reasons and joined forces with the Africans and advocacy groups around the world and it led to the politically concocted trifling end of apartheid policy. Getting to this level and the eventual democracy in South Africa cost huge human and material resources of the concerned nations mostly led by Nigeria just to give the Black South Africans voice and respect for their human dignity.

The South African Black nationalists also suffered unspeakable oppressions, including mass killings, detentions, maiming’s, martyrdoms, resource depletions, exiles, etc. All these happened to get the Africa humanity rising for good. Thus, it is regrettable that the same black beneficiaries of the All African Congress, ANC led South African nationalism struggles bankrolled and supported by their African brethren and nations are the one committing xenophobic crimes and killings against their same saviour-brethren and nations for no genuine cause other than transferred aggression. The South African blacks, has suffered personality distortions making them underestimating their Africa values and worth, to the extent that their relationship with their African brethren was anything but unhealthy because they live debased thinking they are more superior.

On this note, if the motive leading to the formation of ANC as summarized in its website is that “The ANC is a national liberation movement.  ……….formed in 1912 to unite the African people and spearhead the struggle for fundamental political, social and economic change. ….. ANC’s key objective is the creation of a united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society. This means the liberation of Africans in particular and black people in general from political and economic bondage. It means uplifting the quality of life of all South Africans, especially the poor”. Then South African blacks are far from being liberated!

However, despite that Black Africans have been in power for two decades plus, today South Africa is far from having the above attributes as projected by ANC in its guiding philosophy. And there is no hope of attaining that enviable height if the today’s anti-social lives and non-inclusive economy of South Africa remains untouchable and unrefined for popular good. Then, South Africans need to give-up celebration of independence mortgaged and estranged; to begin a new beginning African centred Nationalism that would be all accommodating and embracing, which xenophobia is not part of it. Xenophobia in South Africa is a misplacement of priority and transfers of aggression and anger to the non-deserving other African nationals in South Africa.

The ongoing anti-immigrant violence in South Africa receiving condemnation all over the world has with time and going by its reoccurring frequencies and massive looting of peoples sweats plus attendant killings fellow Africans and Asians dating to 1998 receiving the tacit sanction and backing of the South African state while the South African police are failing to protect the victims of the xenophobia become a cheap resort and unholy transfer of anger by the Black South Africans targeted at the non-Black South Africans and people of Colour in South Africa.

The present xenophobic dastard killings and lootings has been traced to a few weeks ago call by the Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini on foreigners to pack their bags and go back to their respective countries. This, without hesitation had sustained the confidence of the South Africans, as they trooped out on to the streets, killing African and Asian brothers and looting shops and destroying property owned by the immigrants.

It is noteworthy that while we condemned the South Africans over Afro-xenophobia, the culture of African seeing his fellow Africans settlers on African soil is likeable to how the Yoruba irredentists (respect to Yorubas of goodwill) are seeing and treating the Igbo in Lagos and other parts of Yoruba lands as exemplified by the Oba of Lagos Rilwan  Akiolu’s recent death threats to Igbo Nigerians that if they failed to vote for his choice Lagos Governorship candidate during the recent 2015 election “they will all perish in the Lagoon (water)”. It is also at the backgrounds of the roots of the wanton killings of the Igbos and destructions of their property in other parts of Nigeria especially the Northern part; all because of their economic progress and investments. This is what the Islamist terrorist Boko Haram has come to compound while sparing no colour, belief nor tribe, including those who appeared indifferent to the yearlong destruction of the Igbos’ and their humanity.

Though, South African Foreign Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, has done the talking declaring that: “We believe that working together we can defeat this demon”. The truth, however, lies in heeding the call by Malawian Information Minister, Kondwani Nankhumwa, on South Africa to provide greater protection for immigrants, resonating demands from China, Nigeria and the African Union calling for an end to this racial mess, whether called xenophobia or Afro-phobia. While South Africa is free to play to the gallery protesting Nigeria’s diplomatic severance with South Africa leading to withdrawal of her High Commissioner to South Africa, they should see it as a laud statement protesting that we (Africans) invested a lot both human and economic wise including defence during the anti-apartheid struggle and do not deserve the xenophobic attacks and treatment from our South African brethren we suffered to liberate.

However, the moves by some African governments to evacuate their nationals from South Africa will not solve the periodic outbreaks of anti-immigrant violence which have been ongoing and ever-reoccurring in South Africa blamable on high unemployment; officially around 25 per cent which some economic experts say is really much higher, prevalent poverty and conspicuous income discriminations and disparities. These are traceable to economic inequalities between the White and Black South Africans caused by Pa. Nelson Mandela’s greed for power leading to his sabotage of the South African Nationalism when he went into negotiations with the Apartheid led White South Africa all alone, after his initial rejection of the offer rooting for ANC involvement and its unbanning.

For Nelson Mandela to be freed and be made 1st Black President of the post-apartheid South Africa, he signed-away three things that would have seen Black South Africa rising; and so the white racists South Africans kept its strangle-holds and control on the South Africa economy. What Mandela signed away are (a) Dismantling of the Apartheid South Africa Nuclear Power plant, (b) None Redistribution of the Illegally Acquired Lands seeing the Black South Africans living in ghettoes and poor areas, (c) None nationalization of the South African Economy and (d) Equality of Status i.e. forgiveness of the oppressive White minority abrasive acts without having them stopping their ever evolving anti-social acts. These all together has seen the minority white South Africans controlling the South African economy leaving the Black South Africans out in the cold now seeing the Black South Africans more deprived, jobless and unequal.

From the above analysis, it became obvious that what Nelson Mandela got for South Africa is the worst independence in history and the brunt of it all is inequality in South African nationality leading to poor literacy level, high unemployment and crimes, killer deceases, prevalent poverty and conspicuous income disparities that are now the bases of the xenophobia currently on in South Africa. Thus grossly, a misplaced priority in economy regain and balancing; making transfer of aggressions to the innocent immigrant blacks and peoples of colour in South Africa a trend, whereas the White South Africa are actually the ones monopolizing and manipulating the economy to the detriments of the poor black South Africans.

The African Nationalist Congress, ANC leaders like Oliver Mbeki denounced and called Mandela ‘coward’ for betraying and sabotaging the South African nationalism just to be made President. ANC leaders are aware of this, but are hard to come to terms explaining such to the great followership of ANC and South Africans that the man they crowned “Mandiba” and seen hero of the Apartheid South Africa struggle worldwide, honoured with Nobel Peace Prize by the same West that created and encouraged apartheid be revealed as the main enemy of South Africans and African nationalism. Until, we Africans come to terms choosing and celebrating our own heroes and not the Imperial Economic Hit Men, IEHM packaged and promoted by the West, and World Bank and International Monetary Funds, IMF and other imperial killer institutions as “Distinguished Leaders”, “Technocrats”, “Authority Figures”, “Egg-heads”, “Human Rights Heroes”, we shall not come to knowing what kills us and or, who is facing us behind the veil.

The West deemed it wise to transfer Nuclear power to apartheid South Africa, to stood White supremacist interest in Africa but through Mandela wanted and got it dismantled when South Africa leadership entered the hands of the Black Africans. Moreover, without the redistribution of the Apartheid made possible illegally acquired lands and the ill-appropriated economy nationalized and or, balanced there is no how badly disadvantaged Black South Africans could be economically empowered. These, all together, have putted the Black South Africans in grossly disadvantaged positions, politically, culturally and economically; making South African Independence worst of its kind in history.

I was not alone on this cause making case that it was Mandela who sabotaged South African nationalism and struggle just to become president and celebrated “hero of Apartheid struggle”; as designed by the West. Commenting on Mandela’s economic sabotage and killer nationalism because of his lust for power when the ignorant worldwide media and leaders were celebrating him at death, Greg Palast in his article “The Mandela Barbie” dated Friday, 13 December 2013 posted inTruthout said: “Seeing the writing on the wall (and envisioning their blood on the floor), the white-owned gold and diamond cartels, Anglo-American and DeBeers, backed by the World Bank, came to Mandela with a bargain: black Africans could have voting power . . . but not economic power.

“Mandela chose to shake hands with this devil and accept the continuation of economic apartheid. In return for safeguarding the diamond and gold interests and protecting white ownership of land, mines and businesses, he was allowed the presidency, or at least the office and title.

“It is a bargain that ate at Mandela’s heart. He was faced with the direct threat of an embargo of capital, and taking note of the beating endured by his Cuban allies over resource nationalization, Mandela swallowed the poison with a forced grin. Yes, a new South African black middle class has been handed a slice of the mineral pie, but that just changes the color of the hand holding the whip. In the end, all revolutions are about one thing: the 99% versus the 1%. Time and history can change the hue of the aristocrat, but not their greed, against which Mandela appeared nearly powerless”.

Be it here professed that South African Blacks must get it right that it was Mandela that failed them and not the Black immigrants. Until there begins a new enlightenment programs and full economic nationalism and liberalization in South Africa that will accommodate the Black South Africans including redistribution of the illegally acquired lands to enable Black South Africans even embracing unorganized and organized farming; there will not and never be an end and or, solution to the under-developed Black South African economy making rooms for the frequent social crises like xenophobia. The said underdevelopment, also accounts for the poor education literacy among the Black South Africans including menaces of the Acquired Immune-deficiency Syndrome, AIDs highly prevalent in South Africa.

From the looks of things, and events after the seemingly apartheid downfall in South Africa seeing the Black South Africans free but in chain, poorer and economically caged; one can say with certainty that South Africa independence has no African cultural identity and African economic and political power that is all embracing and humanity bound. It was an extension of apartheid economic slavery now with African imprimaturs hidden in veil of freedom given and withdrawn before the full moon without the South Africa blacks, African people and world knowing it. All we need in South Africa is a new beginning Pan African nationalism and humanism cause capable of delivering open-economy where no one is neither oppressed and economically estranged base on his nationality, colour and or belief but be allowed to live fulfilled.

–

Humanocrat Mazi Okwudirichiukwu Okwuchiukwu, is a Pan Africanist, CEO, Centre For Research, Humanocracy, Traditional and Developmental Education, and Former National Coordinator, Concerned Youths of Nigeria, CYN. Email:okwuokwu@yahoo.com. Tel: 0803-555-9313

Basketmouth took to his Instagram page to blast Petroleum Minister, Mrs Allison-Madueke Deziani following she allegation that tried to flee the country to avoid being prosecuted over fraud,(ASYLUM) especially in the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission (NNPC).

Allison-Madueke who denied committing any crime, saying she only stepped on big toes during her tenure. I don't think she has been able to convince many Nigerian including basket mouth.