The recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa has proven to be one of the most brutal on the African continent and a source of Concern to well meaning citizens all over the World.
I will like to Do a Review of the Cause ( THE THRONE ), Reactions ( THE PEOPLE) and Preferred solution ( THE LESSONS ) to this very Severe probelm from the Nigerian and the South Africa perspective.Pls bear with me as the post might seem a bit long.


THE THRONE

The Recent ourburst and hate speeches being made by supposed kings and custodian of the traditional customs and rules of the people is bad,disturbing and even against the wishes and commandments of the supreme one these Rulers answer to and one may wonder What happened to the Respect and wisdom ,good behaviour and leadership by Example expected from these leaders.

NIGERIA

Towards the Governorship Elections holding in The commercial capital of Nigeria ,Lagos state that boasts of over 5 million people from different ethnic groups,tribes and different part of Nigeria that all contributed to the great state of development experienced by the state . The Oba of Lagos ,Oba Rilwan Akiolu made a very insentitive statement when the Ndigbos living in lagos gave he a courtsey visit..

Audio- www.nairaland.com/2240589/audio-oba-akiolus-die-lagoon

Video - www.nairaland.com/2240956/video-oba-akiolus-die-lagoon/15

The event showed the extent in which favouritism, tribalism and corruption as eaten deep into the country. The time when Traditional rulers refused to meddle into politics and they criticize the nefarious activities of the Government and fight for d people.

Back in the days when King jaja of Opobo fought against the whites ,for the freedom of the people,When the oba of Lagos ,sultan of Sokoto And other leaders fought for the independence of the country.
When The indirect rule was Employed by the whites because of the imminent power ,wisdom and respect enjoyed by the Rulers and the Rulers being held with high esteem for their immense wisdom and acceptable ways of running affairs. We can as well conclude that is a thing of the past.

SOUTH AFRICA


Then came the King of the Zulus,original natives South Africa where king of Zulu made a Statement Urging Foreigners to return back to their country.
View full story- www.nairaland.com/2263777/meet-zulu-king-godwill-zwelithi


This once again showed the decay in the traditional rulership system where the Kings turn Dictators.A king is expected to apply wisdom in his speeches,be accomdating to strangers who mean good.
However, whether Good or bad people, the King insisted on the Foreigners vacating the Land for them.




2) THE PEOPLE

NiGERIANS REACT

Though most people were skeptical about d Authenticity,the refusal of The palace to speak early on the matter led to mass acceptance of the story.
Then came the Audio of The threat statement coupled alongside the video . Many Nigerians especially The affected tribe,the Ibos Condemned the Utterances of the Oba and Called for Proper investigation and Prosecution of the Oba.

Others called For The Oba to Apologise and Retract his statement while other factions claimed the Statement as being misinterpreted and others claimed the Oba was Indirectly working for the PDP.

The APC candidate Ambode and his party condemned the statement claiming The Oba is not the Party spokesman likewise PDP and the Candidate Agbaje who condemn the oba's statement and urged lagosians to vote for their choiced candidate.
The actions of the Monarch were Widely Condemned from all quarters except a few egocentric individuals who claimed the Oba was right.



SOUTH AFRICANS REACT

The South Africans on hearing the Statement of the King launched into one of the most vicious xenophobic attacks recorded on the Africa continent.
Foreigners everywhere were being attacked and their properties worth fortune were destroyed.

.Foreigners from many Other African countries who had invested deeply to make south Africa economy one of the 20 best in the world were being brutally killed,stoned to death and burned to such extent that Children of foreigners were being attacked as south Africans turned off their humanity all in a bid to get rid of foreigners in their land.

These were the same people who suffered Apartheid and years of pain in the hands of the white before the African community and Nigeria especially pushed with so much pain and a lot to lose from the western community,for south africa to gain independence in 1994.

NOTE

No White person. I repeat no white man has been attacked as being a foreigner in South Africa.The supposed Foreigners not allowing their Country to progress are people of their same black Colour .it is a war of purely black against black.


3) LESSONS

LESSONS SOUTH AFRICA SHOULD LEARN FROM NIGERIA


1) Tolerance- The Oba Akiolu statement to the Ibos to die in the Lagoon if they don't vote for APC candidate came During one of the most tensed,anticipated and Sternly contested elections Ever conducted in Nigeria to the extent that many observers were sure of violence when The Results will be announced.
Considering the tense atmosphere as at d time, The Ibos could have capitalise on the situation,called the Oba statement a call to War and start murdering the Yoruba people in Ibo land and in lagos and environs.

Mind you,Lagos is the 2nd most populated city in Nigeria,The Ibos could have been very uncivil and raise up Arms and Start killing Yorubas and looting their Shops which in turn escalates into a war,the elections are cancelled and we have our second civil war.
But the Ibos endured and Waited for more happenings to evolve while at the same timw Condeming the attack and Channelling their grievances through Right channels.
No body called on any Ibo to kill any Yoruba,nobody called for war ,nobody called for riot despite these very provocative statement by the king.

As matter of fact,Nigerians turned the whole Situation into another comedy episode with various memes and funny pictures depicting the Obas statement and The Ibos reaction.Most of these pictures flooded the internet and trended as Nigerians critically analysed the situation

. While Nigerians made a Joke out of the Situatiom while South Africans are Making tears and Smokes out of their own situation.


2) Condemnation of Statements - When the statement of dying in the Lagoon was made by Oba of Lagos. There was outright condemnation of the act even by the supposed candidate (APC's ambode) which the Oba claimed they must vote for or die in the Lagoon as Ambode clearly stated they he is going to Rule lagos as a Lagos for all.

The presidency,the Two major political parties PDP and APC,their members,chieftains,Celebrities,writers ,Ibos ,yorubas ,Hausas all joined in Condemning the Threat and disassociating themselves from the oba's statement.
This aided in calming the people down with the Believe that Everybody knew the oba was wrong

However the situation is different in South Africa. it is as if the South Africans are pleased with the happenings.The presidency did not speak about the matter untill about three days later.Major celebrities have remained silent,the political parties,elites,group have made little or no attempt to condemn the King's statement ( to my knowledge) thus empowering the people who went along with the king and plunged into attacks ..

3) Clarification- The Oba of Lagos and his palace endeavoured to clarify the issue and claimed the Oba statement was misinterpreted claiming the Lagoon referred to an ancient so on and so forth.

The South African Palace of the King failed to retract its statement and claim it is still insisting on foreigners going back.How can a nation Develop without the help of fellow foreigners and Africans.??

The king knowing quite well that this statement might cause Damaged relations he still insisted that this time it is not Ghana must go ,it is African Foreigners must go .

4) Concerned Authorities - Have you ever wondered Why the South Africans have not been attacking The White people.Are they not foreigners too ?? Are they not d People who ruled them during the Apartheid regime.Remember,South Africa has the highest number of Whites living in any Africa country.
Are the whites not taking their jobs too?? The simple reason why day cant attack d Whites is because They know that for Every one Life of a white man that is lost,a million south Africans we follow.

They dare not try it with the Whites.The people knew that before Other african countries will respond,it will be late ,they would have caused enough havoc and Looted all they want and even when the country of this victims respond,it will be with little or no action but mere empty threats.

South Africa seized a Nigerian plane carrying up to 9 million dollars to purchase arms to tackle boko haram despite south Africa knowing quite well that it is a Federal assignment and suppose to be secret.What did Nigeria do ?? Did South Africa return the money ??
When the Oba of Lagos made d Statement,the Igbo traditional rulers issued an ultimatum to the King showing they mean business and before the expiration of the Ultimatum,the Oba made attempts to clarify the issue.
The Zulu king made his statement well before the riots started and No one deemed it fit to act and condemn the statement which any sane man knows may lead to violence.
Nobody, no government of the so called foreigner Countries made attempt to Tell the People to disregard the King's statement, not untill It escalated into a Full grown War.

All in all ,this problem have shown that Africans are not united and there is need for Urgent review, decisions and action to unite Africa as one continent as we strive to attain development .
We all need one another,say no to Xenophobia.Embrace peace.One Africa.United we stand, Divided we fall !!

Cc lalasticlala,Seun

Written by Synordic, Writer and Reviewer.Follow at @iamsynordic on Twitter.