Xenophobia: Nigeria has become a plague to be combated by other nations- Former pastor

By Al Akigbe

I'm a patriot and not a pessimist. But my patriotism doesn't blindfold me from knowing that Nigerians and indeed Nigeria, is in a mess...mega mess. It's just pathetic that most people still don't know this.

Nigerians are oppressed, deprived and killed by either the police or herdsmen or military bandits in their own country. They're buffeted, profiled, scorned and killed outside their country.

The xenophobic attacks in South Africa is really unfortunate. I still can't believe the extent of their barbarism that I saw on videos. South Africans? How dare they?

But what can we do? The hatred of Nigerians has become the beginning of wisdom for other nations. We have become a plague to be combated because we can't expect host nations to fold their hands and watch while our people desecrate their lands with all manner of crimes ranging from drug peddling to profiteering.

Al Akigbe

We are at disadvantage if we kept quiet. We will still be at disadvantage if we retaliated. For starters, you can't find a South African in the streets of Lagos or Abuja. They come here as big shots and investors, not hustlers and drug peddlers like you'll find Nigerians in the streets Jo'burg and Soweto.

You boycott Shoprite, MTN or DsTv, Nigerians will be thrown into the already overpopulated unemployment market, and the investors will simply sell off their shares and beat it while we mismanage and ruin the businesses, as our custom is.

What do we do? An army without a base don't embark on war. Nigerians have no base, nowhere to call home for now and can't afford a standoff with any nation now. Nigeria is as grounded as that unfortunate Bayelsan whale. Every nation is having a field day cutting chunks off her. Very soon, small nations like Benin Republic will take their bite too.

What will the government do? Is it even the government that values the lives of cattle more than humans that will care?

We are the fucked.