•Yusuf Dantalle
The Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and National Chairman of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Yusuf Dantalle, has described the renewed xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa as a reminder of the need to address Nigeria’s leadership and governance challenges.
Dantalle, who spoke on Channels Television last night, said Nigerians should be concerned by the situation, stressing that the country ought to serve as a model for the rest of Africa.
According to him, the attacks should spur Nigerians to focus on rebuilding the country and electing leaders capable of addressing its challenges.
“What is happening- the xenophobic attack on Nigerians in South Africa and in some other African countries- is a call for us to come back and fix Nigeria. Nigerians should elect who they want to fix Nigeria, not anybody deciding what should be done. Africa is supposed to look up to Nigeria as a big brother,” he said.
The latest wave of xenophobic violence in South Africa has triggered panic and displacement, with foreign nationals blamed by some groups for unemployment, poverty, and crime.
In response, several African countries, including Nigeria, have begun emergency evacuations.
The federal government has already airlifted an initial batch of 258 Nigerians from South Africa.
