Riyaz Patel
Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has said South Africa does not deserve to be one of the continent’s leaders if it can’t accommodate others, commenting on the the xenophobic attacks in parts of the country.
Obasanjo urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to “make an example” of those who made anti-foreigner comments.
“If I were President Ramaphosa, the issue would not have arisen, now that it has arisen, I would condemn it in a very stern language,” Nigeria’s former president said.
“If any country who is the leader or one of the leaders cannot accommodate others, then they don’t deserve to be a leader.”
“Secondly, those who have made comments glorifying that bad act no matter how close they are to me, I would publicly castigate them. I will make an example of a few of them and I mean that.”
Obasanjo said he also sent a letter to Ramaphosa and Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, condemning the killings of foreign nationals in South Africa.
“It doesn’t matter what we may say, South Africa is one of the most developed countries in Africa and is the leader or one of the leaders in Africa. Then, if any country who is the leader or one of the leaders cannot accommodate others, then they don’t deserve to be a leader.”
The elder statesman added, “There is need for fence-mending, reconciliation and wound-binding between South Africa and the countries whose citizens have been victims of xenophobia in South Africa.”
President Ramaphosa dispatched former Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe, Kingsley Mmabolo and Khulu Mbatha to seven African countries to soothe tensions.
Sending special envoys to African states reflect South Africa’s commitment to address recent attacks on foreign nationals, International Relations and Cooperation Minister (DIRCO) Naledi Pandor said.
