BEVERLY HILLS, March 01, (THEWILL) – Former President Olusegun Obsanjo has condemned the xenophobic attacks against immigrants in South Africa, blaming the leadership of the country under President Jacob Zuma.
He made his position known in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, when the leadership and officials of the Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Study (NIPS), kuru -Jos, visited him describing the development as a betrayal of the struggle for the emancipation of the country against the apartheid regime.
Obasanjo said if the South African youths are violently striking at Nigerians and other African nationals out of immaturity and ignorance of what Africa and its continental organisations stood for, are the leadership and elders of the country also ignorant?
Obasanjo told the NIPS’ team led by its Chairman, Major General Laurence Onoja (rtd) that he feels disheartened to know that many of the nation’s youths perished while crossing the Sahara Desert or the Mediterranean in search of non-existing greener pastures.
He called on African heads of government to provide good leadership for their citizens as part of efforts to enhance regional integration and stressed the need for the leaders to ensure good governance for the overall development of the continent.
“I will apportion more blame to the leadership of the South African government,” he said.
“While the immaturity of the youths can be excused, the leaders ought to realise the importance of unity and brotherliness in Africa.
“Youths can be so immature, they may not understand what Africa stands for, what our continental organisations stand for. But if the youths do not understand, what happened to the elders? What happened to the leadership?
“While I blame the youths of the country for the attacks, I will blame the leaders of any country more that allows xenophobic attacks against fellow Africans for whatever reason.
“African leaders should also step up measures at developing their countries and improve the living standards of their citizens.
“This will discourage our youths who because of under development and poor living standard seek greener pastures outside their countries.
“I feel disheartened learning that many of our youths perish while crossing the Sahara Desert or the Mediterranean Sea.
“Having said that, it is also the responsibility of everyone of us in our different countries to prepare our countries so that those our youths that think that there is an Eldorado somewhere outside their countries will be made to know that there is no green pasture anywhere, the green pasture is here in your country.”
