Former President Goodluck Jonathan has reacted to the recent Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa, Igbere TV reports.
Igbere TV had previously reported that properties worth millions of naira, belonging to Nigerians in South Africa, were set ablaze by South Africans.
A viral video sighted by Igbere TV on Monday also showed several shops being looted by the angry South African citizens in their large numbers.
President of the Nigeria Union in South Africa, Adetola Olubajo, said the attacks began on Sunday morning in Jeppestown area of Johannesburg.
Mr Olubajo said in a statement on Monday that the mob “looted several shops that were around the vicinity suspected to be owned by foreign nationals.”
Reacting to the development in a key note address he presented Thursday at the ongoing International Peace Summit in Sao Tome and Principe, Jonathan urged African leaders to strive to protect the rights and businesses of fellow Africans within their domain.
The former President who is the Chairman of the the African wing of the newly inaugurated International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP), emphasized on the need for leaders to protect lives and property on the continent.
“To make meaningful progress, Africans must be encouraged to treat one another as brothers and sisters, in love and unity. Relations within and between nations should never be allowed to degenerate to a level where citizens will resort to self-help by visiting violence on fellow Africans and their legitimate business interests,” he said.
He further added that “Growth and development can only be cultivated and sustained when leaders ensure that the rights and freedoms of citizens as well as migrants are respected and protected.”
Igbere TV gathers that the conference has in attendance many serving and former African leaders including Sao Tome President Evaristo Carvalho, Prime Minister Jorge Bom Jesus, former President of Niger Mahamane Ousmane and former President of Guinea Bissau Manuel Serifo Nhamadjo.
