The Xenophobia Syndrome - by Charly Boy

Here's Charly Boy's take on the Xenophobic attacks
happening in South Africa currently. Read below
I am not feeling good today. Perhaps I got up on the
wrong side of the bed. But the bad news from my
telephone conversation with my granddaughter who is
an undergraduate in Mauritius last week could be a
factor. She expressed her deep concerns regarding
safety in her country of study, highlighting strings of
attacks on foreigners.
I have been most worried about the too much bickering
and guarding of territory stories making the rounds. It
appears Xenophobia is becoming the mass ideology of
the century.
The events of the past 2weeks in South Africa and indeed
other parts of the world have got me really thinking.
Nigerians who live in Western/European countries complain
about racism and being second-class citizens in their host
countries.
Britain is making anti-immigration laws and tightening its
borders everyday because they believe they are being
overwhelmed by the increasing demand to create
opportunities for its teeming immigrants, neglecting its own.
Japanese government, having become extremely worried by
this hostile anti-foreigner development, is keen to attract
millions of new tourists and business visitors to Japan over
the next decade; but with "Don't come to Japan if you're a
foreigner" clause.
This is the message from many Japanese hotels in a recent
survey conducted by the Japanese Ministry for Tourism.
Haba!
Even in our own Nigeria, we see pockets of tribal and religious
Xenophobia here and there. Isn't that really insane? For
instance, just before the recently concluded presidential
elections, there was a mad exodus, people leaving the cities
for their villages due to fear of the unknown. This fatal
inhibition cannot be divorced from the spreading of unguarded
comments and positions which evoked fear in the hearts of
most Nigerians; pitching us against one another. Na wah!
Is it therefore any wonder at the extremity of our own African
brothers in the South meting out the worst treatments on
their fellow Africans? Hmmmnnn!
South Africa is experiencing one of its worse case of
xenophobic syndrome simply because they believe that
foreigners are taking away their luck and their jobs.
I do strongly believe this is a wake-up call to everyone that, if
we believe, our land can still be green. To begin to look
homeward and think of ways to make this our home (Nigeria)
better and truly standout like the giant it’s meant to be. I
think it is high time our leaders began to look inward, create a
life for our teeming population and make Nigeria a proud
home where citizens are not looking to run away (even when
running away means being a 3rd class or no class citizen at
destination).
What is it that we lack that we cannot begin to focus on our
diversity which is the core strength that we have and use it to
create a world where our children will be happy and proud to
live in? Truth be told, so long as we continue to ignore our
youths who I still believe are the life wire of this nation; so
long as we continue to encourage brain drain and capital
flight by running to and developing other countries instead of
ours, the story will continue to be that of raising another
man’s child. No matter how long you keep that child and
nurture it, the DNA can never confirm the child as yours.
As we all anticipate a positively impacting CHANGE, I look
forward to a Nigeria where her honourable youths, leaders and
indeed every citizen will rise up and build the nation of our
dream. A nation where we will sincerely fight corruption, tribal
and religious sentiments as well as all other things that
create the divide and focus on the one thing we have in
common, NIGERIA/Poverty.
Let the ties that bind us be NATIONAL PATRIOTISM or
nothing.
Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce
beef/hate towards those who are not regarded as members of
the herd.
Let this not be a piece you read and do nothing about, let it
inspire you to begin the change from your individual space. To
think that your being poor or less privileged is because
someone else (foreign to you) is rich and doing well is the
actual meaning of Xenophobia.
Think, then let me know what you think....