Femi Gbajabiamila, majority leader of the house of
representatives, has said that Nigerians will criticize the National
Assembly if it fails to address the issue of xenophobic attacks against
Nigerians based in South Africa.
While Gbajabiamila six members of the House, Deputy Senate President
Ike Ekweremadu is to lead six members of the Senate to South Africa.
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, Gbajabiamila said: “People will
ask the national assembly, ‘Where were you guys when this was happening
in South Africa?’ The national assembly is a bedrock of democracy,
anything that happens to Nigerians, 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?’ When it succeeds, we all will be happy.”
Gbajabiamila also spoke on Southern Kaduna killings, among other National issues.
He said: “On the issue of IPOB, and issue of southern Kaduna, charity
begins at home, those who follow what happens in the national assembly
know that southern Kaduna matter is brought up on a regular basis, and
delegations have been sent there and other parts of Nigeria where there
were attacks. I don’t believe we sat down idly and did nothing.
“The international dimension is a different dimension, other
countries are involved and it has become international, so we are going
on a fact-finding mission.”
He waved aside the suggestions that Nigeria should make diplomatic
relations difficult with South Africa over the attacks, saying that
would be the last resort.
“Our country is afraid of no one. When you say are a big brother, retaliation is not the first step to diplomacy,” he said.
“Cutting off ties and retaliation are always the last resort, it will
always be on the table but it will be the last resort. Not too long
ago, Nigeria slammed perhaps the biggest South African company a fine of
N3.5 billion, there was no question of being afraid to slap such a
hefty fine which many argue could have crippled MTN.”