Oshiomhole Tells Nigerian Senate, Govt: Stop Crying, Revoke MTN, DSTV Licences Over South Africa Xenophobia
Senator Adams Oshiomhole has urged the Federal Government to do more than mourn Nigerians slain in the wave of xenophobic attacks against fellow Blacks in South Africa but unleash sweeping economic action against that country’s businesses operating in Nigeria.
Specifically, the former Labour leader and former Governor of Edo State now representing Edo North in the Upper Chamber, advocated the revocation of the licences of MTN Nigeria and DStv, while calling on Nigerian investors to fill the void.
He spoke against the renewed xenophobic attacks on Africans in South Africa.
Raising the issue during plenary on Tuesday, Oshiomhole argued that Nigeria must move beyond diplomatic protests and adopt a policy rooted in reciprocity.
He said: “I don’t want this Senate to be shedding tears, to sympathise with those who have died. We didn’t come here to share tears.”
“If you hit me, I’ll hit you. I think it is appropriate in diplomacy. It’s an economic struggle.
“This Senate should adopt a position that MTN, a South African company that is cutting away millions of dollars from Nigeria every day. That Nigeria nationalise it and withdraw its licence.
“I call on the Federal Government to revoke DSTV, which is also a South African company that is carting away millions of dollars.”
Oshiomhole argued that Nigerians living in South Africa were economically productive and not parasites on the host country.
He said: “These Nigerians who are in South Africa, they are not there on holiday. They are there to work and to earn. When we hit back, the president of South Africa will go on his knees to recognise that Nigerians cannot be intimidated.”
According to him, continued tolerance in the face of repeated violence against Nigerians abroad sends the wrong signal.
He said the decisive economic retaliation would demonstrate Nigeria’s capacity to defend its citizens and interests.
Oshiomhole linked the resurgence of xenophobic violence to domestic political tensions in South Africa.
He noted that anti-immigrant rhetoric has increasingly shaped public attitudes toward foreigners, including Nigerians.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Victor Umeh described the situation as dire, saying many Nigerians in South Africa now lived in constant fear, unable to move freely.
He called on the African Union to intervene, including the possibility of sanctions if the attacks persisted.
Umeh stressed that the pattern of violence should no longer be treated as isolated incidents.
