Imo Concerned Citizens (ICC) strongly condemns all forms of xenophobia and the brutal acts of violence taking place in South Africa against foreigners which include Imolites, a country that Nigeria has sacrificed a lot to help them get to where they currently are.
The xenophobic violence are unacceptable, inhumane, a clear violation of basic human rights and shamefully embarrassing for the people of South Africa and betrays the whole African continent.
It is clear that these attackers are not good students of History. Nigerians paid from their pockets to support South Africans. In 1976 Nigeria set up the Southern African Relief Fund (SARF). This fund was to be used to alleviate the plight of victims and refugees of apartheid oppression and to promote their education and general welfare. The Nigerian government made compulsory deductions from public servants’ earnings towards establishing this fund. Government employees had to pay directly from their monthly salaries, this was widely known as “Mandela Tax”. The Nigerian Government and Citizens played a major role in empowering and liberating the country. Despite all these, the South Africans turn around to attack, kill and destroy properties of Nigerians at the slightest excuse.
Imo Concerned Citizens considers an individual’s right to safety non-negotiable and calls on the Nigerian Government to publicly condemn all threats or incidents of xenophobic violence against Nigerians and take drastic measures that will discourage future occurrences and protect Nigerians wherever they may live.
We also call upon all South Africans, government and all sectors of society to stop the xenophobic acts and violence against foreign nationals.
Signed,
Hon. Roland Gabriel
ICC Co-Convener/State Chairman
Signed,
Hon. Divine Chike
ICC Convener Worldwide.
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