Certain actions defy common sense and logic. Why are South Africans attacking Nigerians and other Africans residing in their country? Killings and lootings of Nigerian and other African stores have been going on for a long time in South Africa. Nigerian government have been conveying their displeasure to South African authorities diplomatically, but South African government have not done much about it. The result is that the perpetrators of these dastardly acts got embolden and went for bigger targets. Now everything has now come ahead when pictures of the killings and looting started circulating in the social media. The social media video visually confirmed what Nigerians have been hearing for a long time. Picture speak louder than word.
What Nigerians saw in the videos was too much for them to bear. I have never seen any issue that united Nigerians from all regions like this. I have never seen any issue that are driving average Nigerian crazy. Nigerians are angry at South African treatment of Nigerians and other Africans who reside in their country. When Nigerians look around their country, they see South African businesses prospering in their country. South African companies are not just prospering in Nigeria, but in some cases are the industry leader in certain sectors such as MTN, DSTV and Shoprite. Nigerians patronize these South African companies and express no malice or harass the owners of those companies, let alone kill them.
On the other hand, Nigerian owned businesses in South Africa are mainly small to medium size businesses compared to South African businesses in Nigeria. Even though Nigerians operate medium and small size business, they are harassed by South Africans and killed on weekly basis and their businesses looted and burned. Nigerians do not understand it since none of these acts make sense.
The action of South Africans is so wrong and misguided on many levels. African countries especially Nigeria gave their all to make sure that black South Africans are liberated from apartheid government. It is morally wrong for anybody that has been oppressed to turn around and oppress another person. Africans and people around the world are seeing the irony and shaking their head in disbelief. Businesses owned by Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa are contributing to the economy of South Africa just like South African owned businesses in Nigeria are contributing to Nigerian economy. Late Nelson Mandela, former South African president will be turning in his grave as we speak. What some South Africans are doing is slow motion suicide for their country. Who will come there to invest their hard-earned money if their country is perceived as unstable and dangerous. Africans are gradually cutting their ties to South African.
Europeans will not come there to invest if they see what is going on over there. Post-apartheid South Africa was supposed to be a hub where investors will establish manufacturing factories and distribute goods to the rest of Africa countries but that will not continue if the current situation continues. The damage may already be done. Africans looked at post-apartheid South Africa as a showcase which will demonstrate that Africans can manage their affairs after Zimbabwe debacle. Unfortunately for Africans, South Africa is reinforcing stereotype of Africans as people who are incapable of governing or managing anything of significance.
Most Nigerians agree that If any Nigerian commits any crime in South Africa, that person must face the full weight of South African law. Nigerians do not condone any type of criminal activity by Nigerians in South Africa or any country in the world. Nigerian government are now cooperating with FBI to arrest Nigerians implicated in online fraud recently. So, there is no disagreement among Nigerians when it comes to crime and punishment.
Nigerians must not start reprisal attacks on South African businesses. Nigerians must not cut their nose to spite their face. Most of the employees of the South African businesses are Nigerians so you will be contributing to unemployment in Nigeria if you loot or burn South African owned businesses. Also, some of the businesses Nigerians think are owned by South Africans are indeed franchises owned by Nigerians. MTN was recently listed on Nigerian stock exchange, guess who bought most of the shares, Nigerians. Moreover, these businesses pay state and federal taxes which those governments uses to provide much needed infrastructure and other needs of Nigerians. Two wrongs do not make a right. Nigerians must take a moral high ground on this issue. Let South Africans wallow in their ignorance and stupidity. Nigerians need to show maturity and must not give up hope on achieving African unity. South Africa may never recover from their reckless and incomprehensible act.