Shettima urges South Africans to rethink xenophobic attacks on Nigerians

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged South Africans to reconsider xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals, saying Nigeria will no longer tolerate the dehumanisation of its citizens.

Shettima spoke in Luanda, Angola, on Monday shortly before departing for Nigeria after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.

The Vice-President said Nigeria remained committed to resolving concerns with South Africa through dialogue and peaceful engagement, but would continue to speak out whenever the safety and dignity of Nigerians were threatened.

“Those whose palm kernels were cracked by benevolent spirits should learn to be humble,” Shettima said.

“We were part of the struggle for the liberation of our brothers and sisters in Southern Africa, and we feel personally pained that our people have been picked up for humiliation.

“The government and people of Nigeria will no longer countenance a situation whereby our people are dehumanised and put into very, very unacceptable situations.”

Shettima, however, said Nigeria did not want to escalate tensions with South Africa, stressing the importance of maintaining constructive relations between both countries.

“But we believe in having very robust conversations with our South African brothers. We don’t want to overheat the polity, but once in a while, you have to make it very clear, vehemently clear, that certain situations are unacceptable, and we’ll work things out,” he said.