South Africa/Nigeria Face-off: Our Stance Will be Detrimental to Our Global Interest –Shira
Oct 16, 2014
Nigerian Mirror
Hon Hamisu Shira, a Peoples Dempcratic Party, PDP, chieftain from Bauchi State, and former chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Electoral Matters, tells WOLE OLADIMEJI why the threat by the Federal Government against South Africa business interests in Nigeria should be handled with care.
Do you think the Nigerian government’s stand on the cash seized by South Africa is justified?
I think the position Nigeria is taking on the issue of seizure of money by the South Africa would be detrimental to her overall interest internationally. I think what our government needed to do is to look at the merit of the case and ascertain whether or not South Africa has breached any treaty or protocol signed between the two countries. I think that is the best way to go about the issue, especially when you look at the position taken by prominent politicians and opinion moulders in the country, people are not taking it lightly, some are even calling on Mr President to come out and make a statement and perhaps come out clean on the matter.
I quite agree that Nigerians may not be happy with the position but then, we should try to look at what happened, what led to this illegal exportation of dollars, especially when the Federal Government is operating a cashless system. We must not try to take haphazard decision, moreso that Nigeria is going into election in 2015. This is a time that Nigeria is at a cross road and we need the support of the international community and then when you look at the South Africa, interest, the multinational companies operating in Nigeria, but at the same time we must look at the global and international interest so that it would supersede whatever parochial interest we may have in trying to deal with and resolve the matter.
Is South Africa right in seizing Nigeria’s money meant to procure arms. Don’t you see a gang up in the matter?
No, but the truth of the matter is that what we should try to look at is whether the position taken by South Africa has in any way breached her internal rule and regulation; whether Nigerians or the so call individual involved in this saga breached any of the South African laws and then we should try to put ourselves in the shoes of the South African and also put tNigeria position into South African shoes. Is Nigeria going to take the same issue lightly had it been a similar case involving the citizen of South Africa coming to Nigeria and caught with such amount of money without declaring it. Is Nigeria going to take it lightly and say well, you have breached Nigerian law but because of our relationship with South Africa, we would allow you to go.
I don’t think Nigeria will have taken a different position if the South Africa committed the same offence in Nigeria. We must look at the larger interest and look at the relationship that existed between the two countries. Of course I know that we are competitors, we are the largest black Africans nation and I know we are competing economically with South Africa, we consider them a rival but at the same time, such issue must be taken with due consideration and perhaps it is duty bound on Mr President to brief key officers of the National Assembly so that they can put their heads together and see through parliamentary intervention, how to bring solution to the crisis; but at the end of the day, whichever way we try to look at it, I think Nigerians would not be happy with that position because it would look as if the Federal Government is trying to shield illegality committed by certain individuals, especially because of the parties allegedly involved and the owners of this equipment that was used to commit the so called crime.
Do you believe in Federal Government’s efforts at fighting the insurgency.
Well, with the recent development and the achievement made by the military in the last few weeks, I would say yes, because I think government is now serious. But when you look at how the whole issue has been handled, it should not have degenerated to this level if concerted efforts were made in the past. The fact that we are about to commence political activities in preparation for the general election, some of us from that region are beginning to entertain fear on whether or not there is going to be election in the North-East and I think, it is very very important for the Federal Government to take drastic measures to ensure that it curtails the insurgent before the 2015 general election. Because we would not take it lightly if our region, for whatever reason, was disenfranchised from participating in the 2015 election.
Do you believe in 2015 general elections.
Absolutely, I have every reason to believe that there is going to be a well-conducted election in 2015.
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| Hamisu Shira of the ruling PDP in Bauchi State. |
Nigerian Mirror
Hon Hamisu Shira, a Peoples Dempcratic Party, PDP, chieftain from Bauchi State, and former chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Electoral Matters, tells WOLE OLADIMEJI why the threat by the Federal Government against South Africa business interests in Nigeria should be handled with care.
Do you think the Nigerian government’s stand on the cash seized by South Africa is justified?
I think the position Nigeria is taking on the issue of seizure of money by the South Africa would be detrimental to her overall interest internationally. I think what our government needed to do is to look at the merit of the case and ascertain whether or not South Africa has breached any treaty or protocol signed between the two countries. I think that is the best way to go about the issue, especially when you look at the position taken by prominent politicians and opinion moulders in the country, people are not taking it lightly, some are even calling on Mr President to come out and make a statement and perhaps come out clean on the matter.
I quite agree that Nigerians may not be happy with the position but then, we should try to look at what happened, what led to this illegal exportation of dollars, especially when the Federal Government is operating a cashless system. We must not try to take haphazard decision, moreso that Nigeria is going into election in 2015. This is a time that Nigeria is at a cross road and we need the support of the international community and then when you look at the South Africa, interest, the multinational companies operating in Nigeria, but at the same time we must look at the global and international interest so that it would supersede whatever parochial interest we may have in trying to deal with and resolve the matter.
Is South Africa right in seizing Nigeria’s money meant to procure arms. Don’t you see a gang up in the matter?
No, but the truth of the matter is that what we should try to look at is whether the position taken by South Africa has in any way breached her internal rule and regulation; whether Nigerians or the so call individual involved in this saga breached any of the South African laws and then we should try to put ourselves in the shoes of the South African and also put tNigeria position into South African shoes. Is Nigeria going to take the same issue lightly had it been a similar case involving the citizen of South Africa coming to Nigeria and caught with such amount of money without declaring it. Is Nigeria going to take it lightly and say well, you have breached Nigerian law but because of our relationship with South Africa, we would allow you to go.
I don’t think Nigeria will have taken a different position if the South Africa committed the same offence in Nigeria. We must look at the larger interest and look at the relationship that existed between the two countries. Of course I know that we are competitors, we are the largest black Africans nation and I know we are competing economically with South Africa, we consider them a rival but at the same time, such issue must be taken with due consideration and perhaps it is duty bound on Mr President to brief key officers of the National Assembly so that they can put their heads together and see through parliamentary intervention, how to bring solution to the crisis; but at the end of the day, whichever way we try to look at it, I think Nigerians would not be happy with that position because it would look as if the Federal Government is trying to shield illegality committed by certain individuals, especially because of the parties allegedly involved and the owners of this equipment that was used to commit the so called crime.
Do you believe in Federal Government’s efforts at fighting the insurgency.
Well, with the recent development and the achievement made by the military in the last few weeks, I would say yes, because I think government is now serious. But when you look at how the whole issue has been handled, it should not have degenerated to this level if concerted efforts were made in the past. The fact that we are about to commence political activities in preparation for the general election, some of us from that region are beginning to entertain fear on whether or not there is going to be election in the North-East and I think, it is very very important for the Federal Government to take drastic measures to ensure that it curtails the insurgent before the 2015 general election. Because we would not take it lightly if our region, for whatever reason, was disenfranchised from participating in the 2015 election.
Do you believe in 2015 general elections.
Absolutely, I have every reason to believe that there is going to be a well-conducted election in 2015.
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