Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticised the Tinubu administration over what he described as its slow, weak and reactive response to the renewed wave of anti-immigrant tensions and xenophobic threats in South Africa.
Atiku said it was both embarrassing and unacceptable that Nigeria — widely regarded as Africa’s most populous nation and self-styled giant of the continent — appeared hesitant and indecisive while smaller African countries moved swiftly to protect their citizens.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former presidential candidate said Ghana demonstrated leadership and urgency by immediately approving the evacuation of more than 300 distressed citizens, while Nigeria responded only after mounting pressure and public outcry.
“It is deeply troubling that Nigeria, a country that prides itself as the leader of the Black world and the giant of Africa, once again found itself reacting instead of leading in a moment of continental crisis,” the statement read.
“When the first signs of danger emerged, smaller African nations acted with clarity, compassion and urgency. Ghana moved decisively. Others issued strong advisories and activated protective mechanisms for their nationals. But Nigeria, whose citizens have historically borne the brunt of xenophobic violence in South Africa, moved with the lethargy that has become the defining trademark of this administration.”
Atiku argued that although the Federal Government eventually acknowledged the situation and mentioned evacuation plans, the response lacked the urgency expected from a responsible government.
“Yes, the government has now spoken. Yes, repatriation talks have been mentioned. But the critical question remains: why did it take external pressure and the decisive action of others before Nigeria found its voice?” he queried.
“This is not about whether the government eventually responded. It is about whether that response reflected the urgency, seriousness and leadership expected of a responsible government. By every objective standard, it did not.”
The former vice president lamented the repeated attacks, intimidation and destruction suffered by Nigerians living in South Africa over the years, noting that many families and business owners have continued to live in fear.
“For years, Nigerians in South Africa have endured recurring cycles of intimidation, harassment, looting and xenophobic hostility. Businesses have been destroyed. Lives have been endangered. Families have lived in fear,” he stated.
He further accused successive Nigerian administrations of repeatedly responding to such crises with weak diplomacy and bureaucratic delays.
“Yet successive Nigerian responses have followed the same tired script — summon diplomats, issue cautious statements and retreat into bureaucratic inertia until the next crisis erupts,” he added.
Atiku stressed that the protection of citizens, regardless of where they reside, remains the primary responsibility of government.
“A government’s first obligation is the protection of its citizens — wherever they may be. A government that waits until other nations have taken the lead before acting sends a dangerous signal that the lives of its citizens are negotiable,” he said.
He described it as humiliating that Ghana, despite having fewer diplomatic resources and a smaller population abroad, projected stronger leadership and compassion than Nigeria during the crisis.
“It is frankly humiliating that Ghana, with far fewer diplomatic resources and citizens abroad, projected stronger leadership and clearer compassion than Nigeria in this moment,” he stated.
Atiku urged the Federal Government to move beyond what he called “half-measures” by issuing a firm travel advisory, activating immediate evacuation arrangements for willing Nigerians, intensifying diplomatic engagement with South African authorities and working with the African Union to establish a stronger continental response against xenophobic violence.
“Africa cannot continue to preach unity while tolerating periodic persecution of fellow Africans. And Nigeria cannot continue to posture as a continental leader while behaving like a reluctant observer,” he said.