Xenophobia: Meet Allen Onyema, The Lawyer Who Evacuated Stranded Nigerians From South Africa For Free

So much has said about the man who spent over N280 million to evacuate stranded Nigerians in South Africa, back to Nigeria. The recent xenophobic attacks have indeed shaken the African continent, as many blacks have been killed with their properties destroyed and looted.

It is believed that the reason for the attacks is that foreign nationals have contributed to the increase of crimes such as drug pushing, robbery, etc. Others believe that the laziness of black South Africans, and lack of jobs is the major cause. Those who hold this opinion argue that foreign nationals are taking almost all the jobs meant for the locals.

While one cannot say whether or not the perpetrators of this act are justified, it is on record that many persons have condemned what can be described as the senseless killings of fellow Africans. Also, steps are said to have been taken to see that more lives are not lost to this chaotic moves by the locals.

The man, Allen Onyema, is one of the private individuals, if not the only individual in Nigeria who has sacrificed so much of his resources to evacuate his country-men to safety. According to reports made available, Mr. Allen Onyema who is the chairman of Air Peace spent the sum of N280 million of his own money to bring back stranded Nigerians.

This, he did without collecting a dime. Mr. Allen has been lauded for his good works, for taking such a bold step for Nigerians without considering tribe or race within the larger Nigeria. But how much is known about this patriotic Nigerian, Allen Onyema?

PROFILE:

Allen Ifechukwu Onyema was born in Benin City in the year 1964. His parents hail from Anambra State of Nigeria. He had his early education in Benin in Edo State where he was born.

He attended the Government College, Ughelli, and was afterward offered admission to read law at the Nigeria’s Premier University, The University of Ibadan.

As reported in the FEHN’s website, it was in the University of Ibadan that his appetite for peace made him to lead a group of 9 other students to travel to the ancient city of Zaria to quell a raging religious and ethnic riot that claimed lives. As a result of the publicity he and his colleagues received on return to their campus, their enthusiasm grew and this led to the formation of a group known then as Eminent Friends’ Group – a group formed with the objectives of promoting ethnic harmony amongst Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities and fighting the incidence of violence of all forms in our nation.

On graduation from the University in 1987, he established branches of the Organization in all the States of the Federation. While in the Nigerian Law School in 1987, he combined his studies with social activism bothering on engendering peace in Nigeria.

Barrister Onyema who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1989 started his legal practice in 1990 in the Law Firm of Nwizugbo & Company and rose to become the Head of Chambers by 1992. He resigned from this law firm to establish his own outfit ONYEMA & CO. He equally floated the

property Company of Allen Onyema & Company and an import trade outfit- Continental Business Links Ltd.

Barrister Allen Onyema is not only today the National Chairman of FEHN but also has been appointed to the Executive Board of The Global Nonviolence Conference Series Inc. USA with notable world leaders as Hon. Dr. Andrew Young and Suarez Ramos as members. By this appointment which was confirmed in April 2007, he became the second African ever to be so appointed to the Global Board.

His works of peace particularly in the area of transforming the restive youths of the Niger Delta Region has earned him several national and international honours and recognition. Some of his awards include, The 2007 Martin Luther King Global Award For Pioneering Nonviolence Education In West Africa, Hope For Humanity Award- From Rotary Club And The 006 Africa Leadership Merit Award- From Africa International News Magazine.

Allen Onyema initiated, organised and held with the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the “1ST NIGERIA FOREVER PROJECT” in 2005 – a project geared towards the promotion of broad nationalism as against ethnic nationalism.

He won for Nigeria the hosting rights for this year’s Global Conference on Nonviolence and Peace which comes up in Abuja from December 3-5, 2007. A highly detribalized Nigerian, Allen is married to Alice Ejembi from Kogi State with whom they have four children. Barrister Allen Onyema is the National Chairman of The Foundation For Ethnic Harmony In Nigeria.

Indeed, Allen Onyema will be remembered for his great deeds by generations yet unborn. It was indeed an emotional moment for Mr. Allean Onyema seeing his fellow Nigerians sing the National Anthem on arrival. Hear him:

“I put together over N280 million in order to bring these people back, Air Peace decided to bring them free of charge, nobody paid us a dime, we decided to do it free of charge for our country and for our people.

“When I steeped inside the aircraft to welcome them, they mobbed me and started singing the Nigerian National anthem, there was nobody there singing about separation, they felt proud to be Nigerian, they rose in unison, that drew tears from me”.