Air Peace Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, has urged for a peaceful economic response to the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. He called on citizens to boycott South Africa and not to indulge in violence or reprisal.
Onyema told Arise News in an interview that he was sorry that foreigners were still being attacked, and wondered why the South African authorities were unable to contain the situation, especially since they had security agencies.
He condemned the harassment, questioning and alleged pushing of Nigerians and other immigrants out of their enterprises, saying such acts disrespect the contributions of Nigerian entrepreneurs in South Africa.
How can you explain when individuals go into somebody’s house…’Your paperwork, please? You’re a foreigner, you have to go back home’?” he said.
The Air Peace founder however, said there should not be any type of violent response as Nigerians are not a violent people and should not target South Africans or their businesses.
“I don’t want Nigerians to go to the street and attack any South Africans. “Nigerians are not like that. “We love foreigners,” he remarked.
He also called for economic disengagement as a better response, urging Nigerians to withdraw investment and stop doing business in South Africa.
“The kind of retaliation I want is nonviolent action. Boycott South Africa. [3] “Don’t invest in that country,” he said, adding that this would be a more powerful statement than violence or damage of property.
Onyema said the best and responsible approach to handle the reoccurring conflicts was through peaceful economic pressure.
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