…as Reps harp on revamping Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission
Femi Gbajabiamila, Leader of the House of Representatives delegation to South Africa on Tuesday observed that retaliation will be the last option to be considered by Nigerian Government, as such option would be detrimental to both countries.
Gbajabiamila stated this during the pre-5 days official trip to South Africa to interface with the South African Parliament on the lingering crisis.
The lawmaker who admitted that most of the agreements and treaties entered by both countries only exit on paper, emphasised the need to revamp the Nigeria-South Bi-National Commission that will be responsible for implementation of such agreements in order to forestall future occurrence of xenophobic attacks.
“We hope to meet with Nigerians who reside in SA and assure them of governments intervention.
“We will advance and hopefully get a commitment on the need for payment of compensation for the victims of this last attack,”he said.
In the bid to nip the crisis in the board, he stressed the need for Legislative diplomacy, adding that cutting of bilateral ties and retaliation are always the last resort.
“Not too long ago Nigeria fined perhaps the biggest south African company N3.5 billion – as fines there was no question of being afraid to slap such a hefty fine which many argue could cripple MTN.
“If this mission fails, for me I always have a positive mind and if fails, let’s assume the worst case scenario, at least it will be that we gave a trial.
“If we don’t dot this now, the National Assembly will be accused, people would say where were you guys when this was happening in South Africa’, the National Assembly is a bedrock of democracy, anything that happens, it is the National Assembly that will be looked at.
“Now we are doing something out of the ordinary and again we are hearing ‘why are you doing it’. Let’s look at when it succeeds we will all be the happier for it.”
On her part, Nnena Elendu-Ukeje, chairperson, House Committee on Foreign Affairs expressed optimism that the proposed “engagement with the South African Parliament and authorities will provide lasting solutions.
“If the mission fails, we will be looking at pieces of legislation that says to them that they must resist structural racism, Xenophobia, we will be reminding them that they are signatories to the United Nations treaties against Xenophobia and racism.
“We will be reminding them that silence is complacent. I don’t see how that can fail because we are taking a message to them. Now, in the event that now fails, we shall be reminding them and as the leader said, retaliation is only to the mutual detriment to both countries. And we will be reminding them of their businesses in Nigeria,” she said.
