Deportation: South Africa’s apology was a clever move - Saraki

[emezico]

The decision of South African government to apologise to Nigeria over its diplomatic row with the country was a clever move, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki has said.

South Africa sparked off a diplomatic crisis with Nigeria by deporting 125 Nigerians from the former apartheid enclave last week.

Saraki, who is the immediate past governor of Kwara State, told reporters on Friday at the Ilorin International Airport that the South African authorities did well by apologising for its diplomatic gaffe.

The senator representing Kwara Central District said, "I am happy that South Africa did the right thing, for this is a country that is benefiting tremendously from us if you look critically at the trade balance.

"You will see that South Africa is benefiting more than Nigeria and if you are benefiting it means that you must guard what you are benefiting.

"So I think they are a clever country to have quickly reversed and done the right thing. But I think again it shows that we as a country don't take advantage of our strength.

"For a country like Nigeria particularly if you look at the trade balance with South Africa, it should be that when Nigerians arrive in that country they should be pampered because we are doing a lot to help their economy and so I am glad that Federal Government has restored the dignity of Nigerians and I also commend everybody that rose quickly, "Saraki added.


The Nation