Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the February 23 presidential election, Peter Obi has condemned the incessant killings in Nigerians.
He however noted that the targeting of Nigerians by the killers “has a lot to do with the way and manner we as a nation value and treat our own people”.
“When we criminalize our people all the time, you don’t expect to get the desired respect and valuing from other people.
“For Ghanaians to be listed among nationals that can enter South Africa without visa while Nigerians are being subjected to such extreme humiliation and killings, should tell a lot about how the global community regards us.”
Speaking to newsmen on Sunday, Obi said that Nigerians should not be killed anywhere, more so in South Africa, given the huge sacrifices made by Nigeria, including the resources it deployed, to secure South Africa’s freedom.
The former Anambra State Governor particularly recalled the personal efforts he made when he was Governor to visit South Africa twice to discuss this menace in his meetings with Okey Emuchay and Uche Okeke, the Nigerian diplomats in charge in South Africa at the various times of his visit.
Speaking against the backdrop of the latest killing of a top Nigerian Lady, former Deputy Director General of Chartered Insurance Insitute of Nigeria, Mrs Elizabeth Ndubisi-Chukwu, Obi said that the record of deaths of Nigerians in South Africa is unacceptable and should not be tolerated any longer by Nigeria.
Senators fume over murder of Nigerian Insurance boss in South Africa
He advised the two leading continental nations to treat this matter as critical and take steps to stem the killings to prevent any possible follow-up consequences.
Obi called on relevant agencies and persons in government who need to act on the killings to treat them as a priority by bringing to bear all the necessary energy and urgency to stem the menace and avert the consequent diplomatic impasse.