Ordinary President claims Nigerians face worse global treatment than other Africans amid SA xenophobia
Ahmed Isah ('Ordinary President') stated on his Brekete Family programme Wednesday that Nigerians face harsher treatment worldwide than other Africans, citing ongoing xenophobic attacks in South Africa where Nigerians, Ghanaians and others have been killed. He argued this reflects ineffective Nigerian leadership, noting: 'If you go to Canada, India or other countries and check prisons, Nigerians are disproportionately represented.'
Isah highlighted Nigeria's historical support for South Africa, recalling that Nigeria provided asylum to SA freedom fighters who narrowly escaped apartheid and educated South Africans on scholarship during the struggle. He questioned why Nigerians now face humiliation globally while other nationalities from Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Tanzania receive better treatment despite similar xenophobic violence in SA.
The host connected current diaspora struggles to Nigeria's domestic governance, asserting that poor leadership enables global mistreatment of Nigerians. He urged Nigerians to recognize this pattern beyond South Africa, suggesting systemic issues in how the country is perceived internationally.
Given Nigeria's historical role in South Africa's liberation and present-day xenophobic violence affecting multiple African nationalities, what specific actions should Nigerian leaders take to improve global treatment of citizens, and how might ordinary citizens contribute to changing this narrative through their conduct abroad?