Nigeria’s junior minister of foreign affairs, Musiliu Obanikoro has said that the country’s high commissioner to South Africa was not recalled over the ongoing xenophobic attacks.
Obanikoro who tweeted on his official handle on Monday said the officials were only summoned for consultation.
“Please disregard rumours and reports that the ministry of foreign affairs has recalled its high commissioner to South Africa.
“The MFA summoned the Nigerian high commissioner to South Africa for consultation. He was not recalled,” Obanikoro tweeted.
South Africa reacted to the issue in a very critical manner, faulting the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in several regards.
“The South African government takes note that the outgoing government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has recalled its acting high commissioner to South Africa,” read a statement issued by Clayson Monyela, spokesperson of the department of international relations and cooperation.
“A government resorts to such an extraordinary diplomatic step to express outrage at actions or behaviour of another government. We are not sure which actions or behaviour of the South African Government the Nigerian Government is protesting.
“It is only Nigeria that has taken this unfortunate and regrettable step. If this action is based on the incidents of attacks on foreign nationals in some parts of our country, it would be curious for a sisterly country to want to exploit such a painful episode for whatever agenda,” it said.
Obanikoro’s tweet was the first official reaction since the two senior Nigerian officials in South Africa was recalled last week.
The South African authority said despite the recall, the country remained committed to a strong bond of friendship and bilateral relations with Nigeria despite the death of 84 South Africans at a collapsed guest house of Synagogue Church of All Nations on September 12, 2014.
The country also took a jab at the outgoing administration of President Godluck Jonathan saying it would raise its concerns through diplomatic channels with the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration and referencing the failure of the current administration to rescue the kidnapped chibok girls and also end Boko Haram insurgency.
“We shall also continue to support and not blame the Nigerian Government as it battles to deal with Boko Haram that continues to kill many innocent civilians,” the statement said, adding that “We hope that the more than 200 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram will someday be reunited with their families.”
South Africa and Nigeria have had a tense relationship since the former seized millions of dollars in cash illegally brought into its territory by Nigerian authorities.
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