A group of Nigerians stranded in South Africa have confronted the country’s Consul General, Ambassador Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, over what they describe as the government’s failure to evacuate them amid ongoing xenophobic attacks.
The confrontation occurred at the Nigerian Consulate, where the stranded citizens have reportedly been camping while awaiting repatriation.
In a video shared by News Central, Ambassador Okey-Uche urged the stranded Nigerians to appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for efforts being made to bring them home.
“I want to hear you say, ‘Thank you, Mr President. We see the good thing you’re doing, and we are just pleading with you to fast-track it’,” she said.
Her remarks, however, did not go down well with many of the stranded Nigerians, who said they had been abandoned despite government assurances that they would be evacuated.
One of the group’s leaders, Iky Okwuakwu, Chairman of PFN Gauteng, rejected the envoy’s call to thank the president, insisting there was nothing to be grateful for.
According to him, many of those awaiting evacuation sold their belongings after being assured they would be flown back to Nigeria, leaving them with no means of survival.
He also claimed that while countries such as Ghana had begun evacuating their citizens, Nigerians, including women and children, had remained stranded for weeks.
“Why should we thank Mr Tinubu – for what? Even if you had not asked Nigerians to come out, we would have found our way. But you asked us to come out in winter, women and children, in winter.
“And they are here stranded, and the politicians are there in Nigeria arguing and satisfying themselves, and these people are left here with no hope, and you are telling us to say, ‘Mr President, thank you.’ What are we thanking you for?” he fumed.
The emotional exchange has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many calling on the Nigerian government to expedite the evacuation process and provide immediate assistance to citizens stranded in South Africa.
Watch the Video below:
