Xenophobia Attack: Clamour For Compensation Unrealistic, Says John Baiyeshea SAN

Kwara State-based legal practitioner, John Baiyeshea (SAN), on Friday called for a break in the diplomatic ties between Nigeria and South Africa.

In an interview with one of our correspondents in Ilorin, the state capital, Baiyeshea said the country has tolerated the excesses of South Africa for too long, adding that Nigeria must not give the impression that she needs South Africa more than South Africa needs her.

Baiyeshea said: “I personally believe that Nigerian government has tolerated the excesses of South Africa for too long. Kid’s glove diplomacy will not work in this situation.

“The most appropriate diplomatic response now will be for Nigeria to temporarily suspend diplomatic ties with that country to let them know the depth of our disdain and disappointment.

“If and when they show remorse, and after assurance for protection of lives and property of Nigerians, we can now reconsider restoring diplomatic ties.

“Nigeria must never give the impression that we need them more than they need us.

“Nigeria must come out of/from what I refer to as ‘inferior diplomacy.’”

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria noted that the South African government has not been acting in good faith since the attack on and killing of Nigerians began.

He said: “Apart from unfortunate and tragic xenophobic attacks on Nigerians, even top Nigerian executives who go to that country for conferences are being killed in their hotel rooms.

“The South African government has never shown genuine and sincere concern for this tragic loss of lives. They have never been known to prosecute those who carry out the killings.

“To me, South African government seems to be complicit in all these sad situations as they shield the perpetrators of these savage acts against Nigerians.

“South Africa is hostile to Nigerians and it not only treats our people with contempt, it hates us. “Despite all the huge sacrifice that Nigeria and Nigerians made to liberate it from over

600 years of apartheid, oppression and suppression, the killing of our people is their own ungodly way of paying us back.