The magnanimous and phenomenal decision of the leading
Nigerian commercial air liner – Air Peace to freely air lift Nigerians from
South Africa to escape the violent xenophic attacks has been described as the
true manifestation of the Nigerian core value of humanitarianism and mercy in
times of need.
Making the observations is the prominent civil Rights
advocacy group – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) which has
similarly advocated the setting up of an economic restoration trust fund of N10
billion to be managed by credible Nigerian Statesmen/Women by the Nigerian
government and prominent multinational companies and wealthy Nigerians so those
Nigerians returning from South Africa can be supported with financial
assistance to be able to immediately resume their legitimate businesses which
have now been destroyed by black south Africans. The Rights group said the
donation of free air tickets and planes to fly in Nigerians by Air Peace is
also a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a media statement in Abuja by the National
coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National media affairs Director
Miss. Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA described Air Peace as an excellent corporate
citizen/Ambassador of Nigeria and one of those companies that have
identified positively with the president Muhammadu Buhari’s interventions to
save the lives of Nigerians endangered by the widening spectre of violent
xenophobia in south Africa.
HURIWA also described the free air lift of Nigerians
from south Africa by Air Peace as the most practical steps of advancing the
Right to life of the Nigerian citizens enshrined in section 33(1) of the
constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 (as amended).
The Rights group in the same vein has asked president
Muhammadu Buhari to confer a national honour to Air Peace on behalf of all
Nigerians to encourage the company to continue to implement pro-poor corporate
social responsibility and to motivate other Nigerian and multinational firms
doing legitimate businesses in the country to place the highest value to the
respect of the fundamental human rights of Nigerians. HURIWA said generations
yet unborn will remember this good gesture of Air Peace with nostalgia and will
similarly remember that the Country was under the administration of President
Muhammadu Buhari when a commercial air liner called Air Peace came forward to
offer free air lift of Nigerians who are subjected to bloody violence by their
hosts in South African townships.
“The entire organized civil rights community received
the news that Air Peace has volunteered to send planes to freely air lift
Nigerians to escape the bloody attacks in South Africa. This show of solidarity
with president Buhari and the Nigerian people by the Air Peace commercial
company is a demonstration of the rare quality of hospitality and excellent
corporate social responsibility.”
HURIWA recalled that the Nigerian government had
advised its citizens to “inform their relatives in South Africa to take
advantage” of a free return trip to Nigeria.
HURIWA recalled that this is because Air Peace, a
Nigerian airline, volunteered to send an aircraft to South Africa to bring back
Nigerians willing to return.
This gesture of Air Peace HURIWA stated was announced by
Ferdinand Nwonye, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a
statement on Thursday.
According to the Rights group: “It is a notorious fact
that many Nigerians in South Africa have suffered from the latest xenophobic
attacks with many businesses destroyed and looted. Although at least
five people have been killed in the attacks targeting foreigners of African
descent, the Nigerian government has said no Nigerians were killed.
“HURIWA is well aware of the efforts being made by
Nigerian government to provide succpur jusy as we are aware that the minister
of foreign affairs, Geoffery Onyeama, said on Wednesday that Nigeria would not
‘cave in’ on its two demands from South Africa, which are compensation for
Nigerians whose properties were destroyed and provision of adequate security
for Nigerians in South Africa. We commend the government for using the
instrumentality of The foreign
affairs ministry’s statement on Wednesday to suggest that the government was
encouraging Nigerians in South Africa to return. The statement by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs that informed the general public that following the recent
unfortunate xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, including Nigerians in
South Africa, the Proprietor of Air Peace Airlines Chief Allen Onyema, has
volunteered to send an aircraft from Friday 6th September 2019 to evacuate
Nigerians who wish to return to Nigeria free of charge remains a phenomenal
show of solidarity and the greatest manifestation of the African cultural value
system of hospitality and respect for the sanctity of life.
HURIWA further recalled that it indeed was great that
the general public was clearly advised to inform their relatives in South
Africa to take advantage of this laudable gesture of Air Peace and return
to Nigeria. We join the government to say that Interested Nigerians are
therefore advised to liaise with the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria and
the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg for further necessary
arrangement."
HURIWA recalled that the Attacks: Recent xenophobic
attacks targeting Nigerians and other nationals in Johannesburg, Pretoria and
other cities have left at least five people dead and businesses and private
properties burnt.
HURIWA recalled that South African authorities say they
are responding promptly to curb the violence. More than 70 persons have been
reportedly taken into custody since Monday.
Nigerians have expressed outrage about the attacks,
urging President Muhammadu Buhari to take decisive measures against South
Africa.
The Nigerian president HURIWA recalled announced on
Tuesday that he was sending a special envoy for an on-the-ground assessment of
the situation.
HURIWA stated also that on Wednesday, Nigeria said it
would recall its Ambassador to South Africa, Kabiru Bala.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was also scheduled to
attend the World Economic Summit in Cape Town, has now boycotted the event.
HURIWA said the decision was salutary.
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