Stop wasting tax payers money! Nigerians lash out at senators for visiting SA over xenophobic attacks

 The Nigerian Senate is currently at the receiving end of criticisms from Nigerians. This is due to a Senate delegation’s visit to South Africa, Many say the trip is a sheer waste of tax-payers money

The Senate delegation led by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu visited South Africa over the xenophobic attacks against Nigerians living in South Africa.

But Nigerians queried the rationale behind such move when the executive arm of the government was in a better position to handle such diplomatic conflicts.

A public affairs analyst, Jimi Disu said: “Senator Ike Ekweremadu, leading a delegation of lawmakers to South Africa is completely unnecessary. I learnt the House of Representatives delegation left a day before. 

“This is a job for the executives and not the lawmakers. Our foreign minister should go there and resolve this issue. 

“It is also ironical to have Nigerian lawmakers fly to South Africa while we attack and kill ourselves at home. We pretend as if everything is going on well here. Have they gone to Southern Kaduna to see what is going on there? 

“About seven people in all expenses paid trip to South Africa with tax-payers money to resolve xenophobic attack while hundreds are being killed in their own country is ridiculous. 

“Whilst we can make noise about South Africans attacking our people, which in itself is bad, but there is apartheid in our own country. Tell me, how many murder cases have been resolved

“Sometimes, it is the way you present yourself that others take you. What is the value of a Nigerian’s life? It is known all over the world that you don’t toy with an American’s life. Have we placed value on our own lives?. We need to do a lot of self-examination in Africa.''

Another commentator said: “They are doing what the leadership in South Africa is doing. They try to divert people’s mind from the real issue. Now they have gone to South Africa as if they have a lot of concern for Nigerians. But the problems they have created for Nigerians themselves have not been solved. They are not addressing those issues.''

Meanwhile, the Nigerian community in South Africa was esctatic about the senators visit, saying it is a welcome development.

Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, the president of the Nigeria Union, South Africa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from Pretoria on Wednesday, March 1 that the visit would add value to the campaign against xenophobia.