By Olusegun Samuel Precious
Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima has returned to the country following his participation at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Luanda, Angola, where he represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Addressing journalists shortly before his departure from Angola on Monday, the Vice President issued a stern warning to the South African government over recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeted at Nigerian citizens and other African nationals living in the country.
Shettima declared that the Nigerian government and its people will no longer tolerate the persistent mistreatment, harassment, and humiliation of its diaspora population.
“The government and people of Nigeria will no longer countenance a situation whereby our people are dehumanized and put into very, very unacceptable situations,” Shettima stated firmly.
Expressing deep concern over recent reports, the Vice President noted that the Federal Government feels “personally pained” by instances where Nigerians are selectively targeted and subjected to indignities abroad.
While emphasizing that Nigeria remains committed to diplomatic dialogue and pan-African unity, Shettima stressed that firm boundaries must be drawn to protect Nigerian lives and dignity.
“Once in a while, you have to make it very clear, vehemently clear, that certain situations are unacceptable,” he added.
Invoking an African proverb to highlight Nigeria’s historic contributions toward ending apartheid and supporting Southern African liberation struggles, Shettima remarked: “Those whose palm kernels were cracked by benevolent spirits should learn to be humble.”
The Vice President’s decisive comments mark one of the strongest diplomatic warnings issued by the administration concerning the safety and welfare of Nigerians in South Africa, as calls intensify for concrete measures to guarantee the protection of foreign nationals across the continent.
