XENOPHOBIA:I DON’T THINK ITS REALLYTRUE TO SAY NIGERIANS ARE BEING KICKED OUT OF SOUTH AFRICA BECAUSE THEY ARE TAKING OUR WOMEN- SA CONSUL-GENERAL MOROE. (PHOTO)

 Xenophobia:I don’t think its reallytrue to say Nigerians are being kicked out of South Africa because they are taking our women- SA Consul-General Moroe

The South African Consul-General to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, has dismissed claims that some Nigerians are being attacked in South Africa because of their romantic relationships with South African women, 

In an interview with Punch, Monroe said 

‘’It cannot be. We live in a constitutional democracy where everybody is allowed to exercise their freedoms, and nobody, no matter how they feel, is permitted to interfere with people’s preferences. Love knows no borders. I am quite aware of the popular narrative, but I do not think it is really true because South African men also fall in love with women from other countries. Our sisters may have very good reasons why they prefer Nigerian men, but it is a good thing because we are expanding. 

This is a cultural issue that cannot be avoided. If you choose to marry someone, I do not think you make that choice because of nationality. It is also not true that South African men do not like Nigerian men. I am a classic example because of my association with Igbos. I have friends from the South-East, including Anambra and Abia states. I have an interest in Nigerian culture. Foreign nationals have been in South Africa for many years, but you also have South Africans who are foreigners in other countries, including myself. What most South Africans are complaining about is that some, not all, foreign nationals, including Nigerians, Ghanaians and others, do not respect the laws of the country. They stay in South Africa illegally, and concerns have also been raised about the risks associated with undocumented foreign nationals.

I do not think any country in the world would allow anybody to live within its borders illegally. But when South Africa raises concerns about that, we are called xenophob!c, and I think it is unfair to use that label without justification.“