Senator Oshiomhole Demands Seizure Of South African Firms’ Profits To Compensate Xenophobia Victims

Abuja, Nigeria– A heated debate broke out in the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday as former Edo State Governor and Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, called on the Federal Government to appropriate profits made by South African-owned companies operating in Nigeria to compensate Nigerians who lost businesses, properties and loved ones in the latest wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

Oshiomhole made the call while addressing the Senate over the attacks on Nigerians, citing comments made by a South African minister that compensation would not be paid to affected Nigerians whose businesses were looted, shops burnt and whose relatives were killed.

According to the senator, Nigeria should respond decisively if the South African government refuses to compensate victims.

“The following comments by a South African minister to the effect that compensation will not be paid to those Nigerians whose properties were looted, shop-burnt and even life-taking, but the government of Nigeria reciprocate by appropriating the profit accrued from South African shares in all South African companies in Nigeria, including their banks, IBTC, so that the money realised is used to pay Nigerians,” Oshiomhole said.

He argued that the reported June 30 ultimatum allegedly given to Nigerians in South Africa was not issued by any lawful authority but by a mob, yet it was allegedly respected by the South African government.

“Take into account that this decision to give Nigerians June 30 as deadline was taken by a mob and respected by the government of South Africa. So we can’t allow our people to come, we take taxpayers’ money to pay compensation where South African investment and profit has been taken away.

“I urge that the profit be appropriated and used to settle those who have been brutally destroyed, businesses bombed, and lives lost.

“People do not require any further investigation because the facts are self-evident.”

However, presiding over the plenary, Barau Jibrin urged senators to exercise restraint, insisting that while the attacks were unacceptable, the Senate should allow its investigative committee to conclude its assignment before taking any far-reaching decision.

Barau condemned the actions of those carrying out attacks in South Africa, describing them as uncivilised.

“Thank you very much. Before we continue with what is going on in South Africa, the way those gangs or protesters or whatever you want to call them are going about doing what they are doing, as you speak, is not in line with civility.

“It’s uncivilized.

“We see what is happening in America, but who is doing that? They call them ICE, an immigration body, moving around to check illegal residents, getting them arrested and so on and so forth. But now gangs going around in the name of protesters, persecuting, intimidating people, killing people in the name of protest is not something that should be accepted. It’s unacceptable.

“We cannot allow that.”

The Deputy Senate President, however, cautioned against taking actions that could worsen diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa.

“But then we need to be very careful, as Senator Abdullahi Yahaya said, particularly because we live in Africa. We seek peace. Whatever we need to do, we need to be very careful.”

Barau also addressed the controversy surrounding the remarks allegedly made by a South African minister, saying they had been widely interpreted without proper context.

“Like what Senator Adams Oshiomhole said, sometimes we don’t take things that are said on social media or whatever. We need to analyze what is always put out there.

“I saw what he’s talking about.

“What the minister was saying was that those who live in shacks, illegal settlements, will not be paid anything because they were illegally occupying those areas.

“But those who have titles, nobody will take those titles away from them. Nobody will take those properties from them.

“I saw that minister, one female minister. Nobody will take those titles from them. Even if they have been displaced, those properties still belong to them.

“The titles are in their possession.”

Despite his explanation, Barau stressed that this did not excuse the attacks on Nigerians.

“But that’s not an excuse. Why do you even allow them to be displaced in the first place?

“And what even Senator Yahaya is talking about, the government should be bold enough to say, ‘Oh, we have been threatened by certain people who are conspiring to destabilize our nation.’

“The president should come out to tell the world.

“So maybe they have a problem. They are brothers.

“We helped them before. We can still help them.

“Maybe after the committee has done its work, maybe you find it necessary to advise the South African government: ‘This is your problem. Come out and tell the world your problem.

“So let’s not put the cart before the horse.”

Barau appealed directly to Oshiomhole to allow the Senate committee handling the matter to complete its investigation before any retaliatory measures are considered.

“I beg you, the former chairman of APC, a respected statesman in this country, internationally renowned labour leader, please, let’s not put the cart before the horse.

“Let’s allow the committee to do its work.

“It’s being headed by your colleague, your former governor, well experienced and someone who has the pedigree to do this investigation.

“Let’s allow them to do that, and then we can move on.”

But Oshiomhole immediately rejected the appeal, insisting that the Senate had already mandated an investigation weeks earlier and that the continuous attacks on Nigerians required stronger action rather than further delays.

“My concern, a month ago, at this Senate, under your leadership, we took a decision that the issue be investigated by Foreign Affairs.

“You even suggested, under your leadership, that we should send people to South Africa.

“So it doesn’t mean that our decision must coincide with your opinion, with profound respect.

“You want us to be careful until the people are killed.

“When one man monopolizes madness, there can be no peace,” he added.