Fayose begs for forgiveness

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has
said he is ready for dialogue with his opponents to bring
peace to the state.
He also asked for forgiveness from those he might have
offended, saying “nobody is perfect.”
Fayose spoke on Friday at a special prayer session organised
for him by the Ansar-udeen Mosque, Atikankan in Ado-Ekiti
to celebrate his recent electoral victory at the Supreme
Court.
The 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers of the Ekiti
State House of Assembly have issued a notice of
impeachment to the governor, citing eight impeachable
offences.
The embattled Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, had last week
Thursday requested the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji
Daramola, to raise a seven-man panel within seven days of
receipt of the letter to investigate Fayose and his deputy, Dr.
Kolapo Olusola, over allegations of impunity, violence and
stalking among other constitutional breaches.
Fayose said, “If they say someone has enemies, I’m number
one in the world. But God has been merciful and has been
helping me to overcome my challenges.
“I need your prayers because it will strengthen me more. I’m
here in the mosque to thank God.
“All I want is peace. I have a constitutionally guaranteed
tenure. A governor is judged by his achievements in office.
All I’m interested in is to bring development to my people.
My opponents know if I have a rest of mind I will achieve my
objectives.
“All those I have offended should forgive me for the sake of
the masses and orphans. They should know people gave me
the mandate. Nobody is above mistake; they should forgive
me.”
The governor said a lot of people in the state had been living
in palpable fear of the unknown before the judgment of the
Supreme Court.
“We are here to thank God and pray for peace. I’m appealing
to those aggrieved to please allow peace to reign.
“There is no perfect man. They should allow peace to reign.
All I want is peace that will energise development.
“Anything that can bring peace cannot be wished away. For
me, I’m ready to accommodate everybody. Whatever they
want we can sit down and talk.”
Earlier before leading the prayers for the governor, the State
Missioner of the Ansarudeen Movement, Alhaji Liadi
Adebayo, called on politicians in the state to settle their
differences.
He canvassed for peaceful co-existence of the entire people
of the State, irrespective of their political differences.
The Cleric urged residents to live together in harmony as
politics was not supposed to be a do or die affair.

Xenophobic: Motor dealer Shops set ablaze, looted as xenophobic attacks spread in South Africa

Xenophobic attacks spread to Johannesburg 02:51
Story highlights
Attacks against immigrant businesses started in Durban
The attacks have left six people dead
Johannesburg (CNN)South African police fired rubber bullets
Friday to disperse crowds setting immigrant businesses ablaze
as attacks against foreigners spread to Johannesburg.
Chanting and singing, machete-armed residents burned down
shops owned by foreigners, including a Nigerian dealership in
the nation's largest city.
Immigrants carrying bricks accused police of not doing enough
to protect them as businesses smoldered.
Six people killed
Violence targeting immigrant shops started recently in the port
city of Durban, where two foreigners and three South Africans
were killed. Residents have accused African immigrants of
taking their jobs and committing crimes. The unemployment
rate in South Africa is 25%, according to government figures.
A sixth death occurred Wednesday. The body of a 58-year-old
foreign national was found in Verulam town, where a mob
attacked the man at his home. He fled and died of his injuries
near his home, South African police said.
At least 112 people have been arrested throughout KwaZulu-
Natal Province for various offenses related to the violence,
police said.
Social and economic issues
President Jacob Zuma said his government is addressing social
and economic issues brought up by citizens. He said
immigrants contribute to the nation's economy while others
bring scarce skills.
"While some foreign nationals have been arrested for various
crimes, it is misleading and wrong to label or regard all foreign
nationals as being involved in crime in the country," Zuma said.
As the violence spread to other cities, terrified immigrants
sought a resolution. Others fled, taking refuge at police stations
in major cities.
"They are using this as scapegoats," said Jean-Pierre Lukamba,
an immigrant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
"Every day, migrants are living in this fire. It's not just attacks.
It's institutionalized xenophobia. The government must do
something. Those people aren't just mad for no reason. They
want electricity, they want jobs, they want water."
'They don't understand the history of Africa'
Lukamba said he's part of an organization trying to negotiate
between the two sides.
"They don't understand the history of Africa; if they do, they
would know each of us, we are one," he said.
Thousands fled to temporary shelters, with aid group Gift of the
Givers saying about 8,500 people are hiding in refugee centers
or police stations this week because of the violence. The
number did not include those who have moved in with friends
or relatives.
The aid group said it has a facility in Johannesburg to help
those who might need shelter.
"We are preparing aid packages for those who may journey
onwards to their home countries," it said.
Police ordered to work around the clock
The violence spread from Durban to Johannesburg even though
Zuma has condemned the attacks and appealed for calm.
"No amount of frustration or anger can ever justify the attacks
on foreign nationals and the looting of their shops," he said.
"The attacks violate all the values that South Africa embodies,
especially the respect for human life."
Zuma said he has ordered police to work around the clock to
protect citizens and immigrants, and arrest the perpetrators.
In Mozambique, the South African energy and chemical giant
Sasol was temporarily returning about 340 South African
nationals to South Africa "as a precautionary measure," Sasol
spokesman Alex Anderson said.
Mozambican employees of Sasol service providers have voiced
concern about reported violence against Mozambicans and
other foreign nationals in South Africa and protested the
presence of South African employees in Mozambique.
"We have had no cases of violence at our sites and the
situation remains calm," Anderson said in a statement.
In the past, Johannesburg has been the epicenter of anti-
immigrant tensions.
In 2008, dozens were killed in attacks in the poorest areas of
Johannesburg. Most of the victims were Zimbabweans who had
fled repression and dire economic circumstances. In those
attacks, police arrested more than 200 people on various
charges, including rape, murder, robbery and theft.
CNN's Diana Magnay contributed from Johannesburg, and Faith
Karimi wrote and reported from Atlanta. CNN's Brent Swails
contributed to this report.
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/17/africa/south-africa-
xenophobia-attacks/index.html

Xenophobic Attack: FG Begins Evacuation Of Nigerians From South Africa Monday

As the Xenophobic attack on foreigners
including Nigerians continues unabated in
South Africa,the Nigerian High Commission
in Pretoria has stated that evacuation of
Nigerians in the hostile country will begin
on Monday, 20th April.
The development is a fall out of the
xenophobic attacks being meted out by South
Africans against other African nationals in
their country, including Nigerians.
Leadership learnt from a press statement
emanating from the office of the Commission
in Pretoria to that effect.
The statement said that  Nigerians who feel
endangered, and do not have the fare back
home to quickly make themselves available
for evacuation.
The statement read in parts: “as from
Monday 20th of April 2015, the process of
evacuating Nigerians from South Africa will
begin as directed by the Federal Government
of Nigeria due to the ongoing Xenophobic
attack on black foreign nationals in the
Republic of South Africa.
“To that effect an evacuation register will be
open at the High Commission in Pretoria for
Nigerians intending to return to Nigeria but
cannot afford flight tickets.

Xenophobia : A foreigner’s child attacked, while South Africans stealing from attacked stores

They are now attacking children? That’s
crossing the line and not cool at all. Not
cool…
Some South African females seen stealing
from stores owned by foreign immigrants
who were attacked by Zulu boys. So the men
attack the stores, chase the store owners
away and their women go to loot their
stores. How shameful! See more photos after
the cut…

Xenophobia: Ali Baba urges FG to close South African companies in Nigeria

Acclaimed comedy King, Ali Baba has joined
other celebrities condemning the ongoing
xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The
veteran commedian had in his own reaction
advised the Nigerian governmnet to do the
needful in order to check the excesses of
their brother country, South Africa. He
advised that all South African compnies in
Nigeria must be made to close shops and
leave the country if nothing is done to stop
the attacks.
In a post on twitter, Ali Baba said if after 48
hours untimatum by the governmnet to
South Africa, the xenophobia issue is not
addressed, then his suggested action must be
taken. In the post, he wrote“SERIOUSLY, OUR
GOVT SHLD GIVE THE S/AFRICAN GOVT
48HRS & IF THE GOVT MAKES NO AMENDS,
LET US ASK, MTN, DSTV, BANKS, SHOPRITE
TO CLOSE SHOP,” he said.