Xenophobia: A Call To Rebuild Nigeria

By Adedotun Daramola

It is no longer news that Nigerians have been repeatedly targetted in this new wave of senseless xenophobic attacks in South Africa, but what has our government done?

“Who we are when no one is watching is the fabric that builds the nation we live in- Mmanti Umohi”

The Nigeria response is similar to that of previous Xenophobic attacks which only yields result for a few months before another attack is carried out. The question here is, is this not a call to rebuild our nation?

Nigeria is one of the few countries that is abundantly blessed with natural resources and agile human capital but must we still live in poverty and have to migrate to other countries before we get a glimpse of a better life?

Everything rise and falls with the leadership and our leaders have continuously failed us in most aspects. For example, the nation’s treasury has become a closet for our greedy politicians; while the youths waste away and seek greener pastures in hostile countries. Young people turn a blind eye and our future is looted away right before us. Nigerians have become a huge joke in the comity of nations and the so called leaders have been blinded by their selfish greed. We are treated like dirt in other countries hence the xenophobic attack and our leaders see nothing wrong in this? How did we get here and how do we get out of this?

It is pleasing to know that all well-meaning Nigerians from every walk of life have come out to condemn this heinous act by the South Africans against Nigerians and some other foreign nationals in their country. This mindless xenophobic attacks have left many dead and others living in fear. We have had enough of these attacks and it is high time our government steps in to protect Nigerians from these gruesome killings.

Nigerians have been unfairly treated around the world and this xenophobic attack that is mainly targeted at Nigerians has gone a long way to show what an average Nigerian has to go through in the hands of their host countries in the name of seeking greener pasture.

It is therefore unacceptable that Nigerians have to continually live in constant fear within and outside of their country. We have faced enough and we will no longer take this anymore; as much as we are all Africans and we believe that Africans should live as one, this should not stop the federal government to as a matter of urgency address the problems faced by Nigerians at home and abroad by declaring a state of emergency in our economic sector. If need be, to be able to build our economy to accommodate her citizens, instead of letting our able youths slip away within our grasp in search of greener pastures in countries where they are discriminated against and not appreciated.

“Your pride for your country should not come after your country becomes great; your country becomes great because you have pride in it – Idowu Koyenikan ”.

We know that the task to rebuild Nigeria is one that must be done by all but the government needs to lead us into this economic revolution, it is then that we can start trusting them as Nigerians, so that they will be able to proudly call this nation theirs once again.

We are urging the South African government to call their people to order once and for all and stop the killings. These attacks have lingered for too long and Nigeria will no longer turn a blind eye at their actions and inactions. We are peace-loving people and we desire that Africans should live together as one.

–Daramola wrote in from Lagos