The National Association of Nigerian
Students has advised South African President, Jacob Zuma, to stay away
from the inauguration of the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.
The organization also threatened to storm
the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, should Zuma step into
the country’s airport.
According to the association, Zuma should
keep off as his visit will be an insult to the sensibility of Nigerians
over his alleged poor handling of the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians
and other migrant foreigners in South Africa.
A statement by NANS President, Tijani
Usman, noted that Zuma’s inability to “apologize to Nigerians like he
did to Mozambique”, despite the sacrifices the country made for South
Africa, was unfortunate.
He said, “We wish to advise the South
African President (Jacob Zuma) to rather stay at home and address
burning issues, rather than embarking on a visit that is the least
desirable.
“The South African President’s failure to
apologise to Nigeria for the losses the country and our citizens
incurred during the xenophobic attacks on foreigners leaves a bitter
taste in the mouth. There is therefore, no point felicitating with a
people who clearly do not matter much to you. President Zuma’s visit
will only amount to pretense.
NANS further restated its earlier
position that it will henceforth not hesitate to clamp down on South
African investments in the country should any incident of xenophobic
attacks recur .
PUNCH