President Muhammadu Buhari has come under attack over his visit to South Africa.
DAILY POST reports that Buhari on Wednesday arrived in Pretoria, South Africa, for a state visit and 9th meeting of the Bi-National Commission.
Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, who confirmed this development in a statement in Abuja on Thursday morning, said the 9th meeting of the commission would for the first time witness participation of the two Heads of State after an elevation.
But, Nollywood actor, Yomi Fabiyi, has expressed grievance over President Buhari’s visit to South Africa.
In an open letter to the President, which he posted on his Instagram page, Yomi queried President Buhari for ”smiling and receiving flowers in a country still wet with the blood of his children killed in Xenophobic attacks”.
According to him, receiving such a reception is like spitting on the graves of Nigerians that have been killed in the country.
The letter reads: “GEN. BUHARI WHAT IF YOUR SON WAS KILLED IN SOUTH AFRICA XENOPHOBIA
“Mr. President, I am writing this letter with a heavy heart. Attached pictures are allegedly your arrival in South Africa, a land still wet with the blood of your children and you are all smiles receiving flowers to a heroes welcome on a red carpet.
“I put it to you, sir, such an arrangement was never queried because your son or close relative was not part of those killed gruesomely. From the last I know, my son lives in South Africa, and I put myself in the shoes of those parents, families whose breadwinner’s lives were cut short out of hate, wickedness and outright evil, how will they perceive this? Will you demand true justice?
“Under the UN article, every person has the right to travel and live anywhere in the world. What if your son was killed(God forbid), is this the kind of entry your protocol will accept? Sir, Nigeria can do better. The government who cannot send one of the aircraft’s in your fleet to evacuate planned this, disgusting.
“Nigerians that loot ShopRite are in court and South Africans that killed your sons, daughters, and countrymen are giving you red carpet welcome. Shameful.
“Sir, your ability to allow SARS to torment Nigerians without you addressing it vigorously. That peaceful protests disrupted right from what legendary Tuface Idibia planned to the recent Omoyele Sowore’s planned revolution protest are no good signs for our democracy. Maybe this is why you hardly bother rejecting or query some diplomatic or govt actions that may anger Nigerians, maybe you assume we fear you and protest can never happen. For how long?
“In my opinion, that welcome and body language is like spitting on the graves of slain Nigerians. That is even if the Nigerian Embassy knows where the bodies are, how they were buried and where they were buried.
“I will continue to speak up responsibly on matters that affect people’s peace, that may trigger perpetual violence on and offline. In the case of Nigeria, SILENCE HAS NEVER BEEN GOLDEN, IT IS BECOMING A PUNISHMENT.
“The culture of silence, fear and cowardice are the reasons why most political evil, non-challenge and extreme disregard continue unabated.”
