Updated: February 26, 2021
Before the recent xenophobic attacks unleashed on African immigrants in South Africa, some highly placed political figures were caught on tape inciting the youths of that country against foreign traders. And while pretending to condemn the attacks the Cyril Ramaphosa regime has said that many Nigerians living in South Africa are drug addicts!
This is an unfortunate statement as the authorities in Pretoria ought to have arrested, prosecuted and jailed the Nigerians allegedly involved in drug trafficking in South Africa. Are we to believe that the immigrants from other African countries have been attacked because of their involvement in the drug business?
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No doubt, many Nigerian youths like their South African counterparts have embraced drugs out of frustration. But that cannot be a basis for tarnishing the image of all Nigerian immigrants by calling them drug addicts.
Political leaders of both Nigeria and South African should address the crises of poverty, inequality, unemployment, corruption and violence caused by the religious implementation of neo-liberal policies imposed by the IMF on the two largest economy in Africa.
As a matter of urgency the Ramaphosa regime should deal with the shameful involvement of South African citizens including some public officers and their family members in drug trafficking in and outside Africa.
Femi Falana a senior advocate of Nigeria is the National Chairman of the People’s Alternative Front.
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