The House of Representatives has expressed displeasure over failure of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama to appear before its Committee on Foreign Affairs as well as the House leadership and brief them on the Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila made the feeling of the Green Chamber known Tuesday while ruling after a long debate on a matter of urgent public importance on the Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians moved by Bagos Dachung (PDP, Plateau).
Gbajabiamila lamented that the Minister refused to honour the invitations extended to him by the House Ad-hoc Committee and the leadership of the House on the need for him to brief the parliament about the matter.
He said, “this is a nagging problem over which so many questions have been asked, but it is only when the facts are seen that we can address the problem. The Minister (Onyeama) has not responded to the Chairman’s invitation. I want to use this platform to send a message to the Minister that he is very important in this.
“Respect is reciprocal, this is not only for the Minister of Foreign Affairs but to all other Ministers, we are here working towards a common goal which is the interest of Nigerians, as such they should try and obey such invitations in future, this is one government”.
Earlier, Dachung prayed the House for a resolution to mandate relevant committees to interface with the executive arm, with an urgent view to reviewing Nigeria’s treaties with South Africa and other countries, as well as investigate the remote and immediate causes of the renewed attacks.
In their various contributions supporting the motions members condemned the attacks, called for lasting measures to forestall reoccurrence and commended the Federal government response to the Xenophobic attacks.
During debate, Khadija Buka-Abba (APC, Yobe) who recalled how Nigeria assisted South Africa to attend independence, called on the South Africa authorities to make sure this does not repeat again and sympathized with victims of the attacks.
Yusuf Gadji (APC, Plateau) said the attacks were condemnable while the approach by south African government was not understandable as apology is not enough, saying if Nigerian government had taken drastic diplomatic actions against South Africans they would not have taken such action on Nigerians.
While Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta) called for addressing freedom of investment, issues of restriction and compensation, Chief Whip of the House, Tahir Monguno recommended a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s foreign policy to make it more citizens-centered.
Similarly, the House commended efforts of Chairman of Air Peace, Onyema Allen over his humanitarian intervention, following the renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The House in a resolution called on the authorities concerned to consider Allen for national honours award who in the wake of the attacks volunteered an air craft for the evacuation of willing Nigerians from South Africa.
Speaker Gbajabiamila who on behalf of Members expressed appreciation to Allen disclosed that the leadership of the House would invite the businessman to the chambers in a show of appreciation.
