THE Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on
Foreign Affairs, Mrs Nnena Elendu-Ukeje toady asked the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Mr Olugbenga Ashiru to invoke the tenets of reciprocity in tackling
the present face off between Nigeria and South Africa.
She said “the whole thing has turned into an affront
and the tenets of reciprocity that is the thrust of our diplomatic policy
should be invoked in tackling the situation because it was an illegal
deportation.”
However, Minster of Foreign Affairs Mr Olugbenga Ashiru
reply that, “We are going to make sure that we covey the next session of the
international commission. I want to make one thing clear, African countries
including South Africa should not think Nigeria’s maturity and the friendliness
of our people to foreigners for granted. Also they should not take the friendly
business environment we have in Nigeria whereby companies are making more
profits from Nigeria than in South Africa for granted. I believe as we go on
these are the issues we’ll bring to the table and sort out. I believe that the
present administration is determined to ensure the dignity of Nigerians
anywhere. When you deport two Nigerians from a country, there will be
appropriate reaction. It may not be retaliation but we will know that we are
responding one way or the other.
“South Africa
immigration authorities and officials do not have the monopoly of deporting travelers,
I’m sure you also saw the newspapers today. So we will get to the root of the
problem. South Africa will know that we are very serious on this matter and
henceforth any deportation of any Nigeria we will meet it with equal reciprocal
measure, we will not let it go unreciprocated, that you can take from me, and
we intend to do that.”
I was not informed and that’s why we were shocked
because for a brotherly country, South Africa should have followed normal
diplomatic procedure. You don’t just deport our nationals and deport them back,
it’s not done. In fact before they do it, they suppose to invite our own
officials in Jo’berg to come over so that they will parley. But I believe that
the immigration officials in South Africa are hostile”.
It would be recalled that the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs had invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs to appear before it
today Monday to explain the position of Nigeria on the South Africa action on
Nigerians.
The South Africa
Authorities had deported 125 Nigerians over flimsy excuses bordering on lack of
authentic Yellow fever travel documents.
From left, Minister of Foreign, Amb Olugbenga Ashiru , with Members House Committee on
Foreign Affairs, Hon. Yakubu Balogun , Hon. Ibrahim Gusau, and the Chairperson
House Committee on Foreign Affairs Hon. Nnenna Elendu -Ukejie , during a
meeting between the Minister and the committee at National Assembly over
the recent deportation of Nigerians from South Africa
From Left, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru ,
with Members House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Yakubu
Balogun , and Hon. Ibrahim Gusau , during a meeting between the Minister and
Foreign Affairs committee at National Assembly over the recent
deportation of Nigerians from South Africa. Story and Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan
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