Xenophobia - Nigeria Should Not Retaliate

Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has released a statement saying, retaliation would be the last resort in the efforts being made by the Federal Government to resolve the continued xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

He said that the delegation intended to engage the South African Parliament and other authorities on areas of mutual benefit and how much both countries could lose from Xenophobia and possible retaliatory actions or severing of diplomatic ties.

Gbajabiamila, is leading the House six-man delegation to South Africa, next Monday. While addressing House correspondents yesterday on why the House leadership decided to send a delegation to South Africa, the majority leader said during the 5-day trip, saying that the lawmakers South African Parliament and discuss the possibility of both countries enacting hate crime laws.

He said,  “We hope to meet with Nigerians who reside in South Africa and assure them of government’s intervention.


“We will advance and hopefully get a commitment on the need for payment of compensation for the victims of this last attack,” he said. Also speaking on whether Nigeria was afraid to take strict action against South Africa, Gbajabiamila said that retaliation was not the first step to diplomacy, adding that cutting of ties and retaliation are always the last resort.