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Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has called on Nigerians to boycott South Africa and refrain from investing in the country in response to repeated xenophobic attacks against Nigerians.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on ARISE News on Monday, Onyema backed calls for consequences over the attacks but rejected violent reprisals or measures that could harm businesses operating in Nigeria.
Responding to suggestions that there should be repercussions for the attacks, Onyema said: “I totally agree that there should be a stop to foolishness.”
He accused South African authorities of failing to protect foreign nationals during periods of xenophobic violence.
“Every time they do this, and they get the support of their government, I don’t understand how all of a sudden South Africa lacks police force, lacks the military, lacks every security agency that could have stopped these people,” he said.
Onyema condemned incidents in which foreign nationals are allegedly targeted and intimidated.
“How do you explain where people would march into somebody’s house, bring you out, question you, can I see your papers? You’re a foreigner, you have to go back home,” he said.
The Air Peace boss argued that many Nigerians in South Africa contribute to the country’s economy through entrepreneurship and investment.
“What have they done? The shops they are running, what kind of employment did you provide for him to run a shop? He brought money from Nigeria and opened a shop in your country to help your country and help you,” he said.
“The best you could have done is to learn from these Nigerians and acquire some entrepreneurial skills.”
While expressing support for retaliation, Onyema said the response should be economic and non violent rather than confrontational.
“The Nigerian government, in fact, I support Adams Oshiomhole, who says that we should retaliate. But the kind of retaliation I want is what we are doing,” he said.
“Let us do non violent retaliation. I don’t want Nigerians to go to the street and attack any South Africans. Nigerians are not like that. We love foreigners. Nigerians are not like that. That’s not the kind of retaliation I want.”
He also opposed shutting down South African owned companies operating in Nigeria.
“I don’t want Nigeria to close down MTN or other companies. Don’t Nigerians have shares in those companies? After all, those people are Nigerians too. I don’t want that,” he said.
Instead, Onyema urged Nigerians to withdraw their financial support from South Africa through a coordinated boycott.
“The kind of retaliation I want is for Nigerians to boycott South Africa,” he said.
“Do you know what it means? Boycott South Africa. Don’t invest in that country.”
According to Onyema, refusing to invest in South Africa would send a stronger message than any form of confrontation.
“If they want to invest in our country, let them bring their money and invest. And determine how they take the money back. That is non violence action.”
“Boycott South Africa. If you decide to go against me, the only thing I can do to you is withdraw my support to you. I don’t have to support you to use it to finish me.”
“So, that’s the kind of retaliation I want. That is most powerful.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
