Nigerians have been reacting outrageously to the presence of Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II in South Africa, amid protests by Nigerians and other countries against xenophobic attacks by South Africans.
Fayemi, El-rufai and Sanusi are currently facing heavy criticism by some Nigerians on Twitter for attending an event in South Africa despite the Federal Government shunning the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) to protest the xenophobic attacks against Nigerians residing in South Africa.
The Federal Government had on Wednesday announced its withdrawal from the World Economic Forum holding in Cape Town over the xenophobic attacks.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, had tweeted that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo was to represent Nigeria at the WEF, but “he had called it off in reaction to these gruesome attacks on Nigerians.”
By Wednesday evening, a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia are both under heavy attack for attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting holding in South Africa, despite being boycotted by President Buhari.
Another set of pictures surfaced across social media showing Fayemi, El-rufai and Sanusi are at an event in South Africa. Many Nigerians expressed outrage over their attendance to the event amidst diplomatic rows between Nigeria and South Africa.
Nigerians that attend the World Economic Forum in South Africa deserve to be sent to Nuremberg, Germany for the next yam festival!
They are pissing on the blood and dancing on the graves of their compatriots that have been tortured, maimed and butchered in the streets of SA.
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) September 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/FRNcitizens/status/1169582798795091970
I see SLS, Fayemi (Chairman of Governors Forum) El-rufai, etc. Imagine how Nigerians in SA are going to feel if they sight them like this… It is highly insensitive of them & a total disregard for FG's position & plight of Nigerians in SA. They should leave South Africa ASAP. pic.twitter.com/G6yE3wcpOk
— KING KUKUTE (@Ade_Nurayn) September 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/matthewamad/status/1169555387852500992
Two APC Governors & Buhari's close allies, Fayemi & El Rufai, along with Lamido Sanusi, Amina Mohammed, Jim Ovia, and many others also attended WEF. But Bashir fraudulently tossed Madam Oby to you because she speaks against this govt's failure, and you fell for it. Very pathetic.
— Ayò-Bánkólé Akíntújoyè (@AyoBankole) September 5, 2019
Fayemi, El-Rufai and two other APC governors that attended World Economic Forum in South Africa are insensitive to the plight of their followers. They're not different from Madam Oby.
— Akóredé Khameel⚬ (@akorebami_) September 5, 2019
I learnt Governor EL-Rufai and Governor Kayode Fayemi are in South Africa for the World Economic Forum….
Please how then did Nigerian Government boycott it ?
— Olúyẹmí Fásípè AICMC (@YemieFash) September 5, 2019
Does the Nigerian Government understand the meaning of WEF boycott or they were simply catching up with smaller African nations who took the same action? Many Nigerians overrate the wisdom that runs the Nigerian Government. El Rufai and Fayemi knew they could get away with this.
— Ohimai Amaize (@MrFixNigeria) September 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/wildeyeq/status/1169552044241412096
https://twitter.com/DamilolaPurple/status/1169622366571442176
So Mallam Nasir El rufai, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and Governor Fayemi were all at the WEF, but @BashirAhmaad and Buharists singled out Oby because maligning her will make us forget our President can’t pronounce Xenophobia.
— BONARIO NNAGS (@bonario89) September 5, 2019
If EL-Rufai and Kayode Fayemi are in South Africa for the World Economic Forum, how then did Nigeria boycott it?
That's an entire squad of Nigeria 's elected leaders from the ruling party.
— The Papi (@TheTawah_) September 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/iSlimfit/status/1169578835362353152
Just when I thought me and you were finally agreeing on something, never knew you dishonest Buharists just decided to use @obyezeks as scapegoat for attending WEF, while your sacred Cows, Fayemi, Elrufai & SLS are also in South Africa drinking Umqombothi. https://t.co/0Vdoz1v2ba
— Prof Stanley Nwabia (@MrStanleyNwabia) September 5, 2019
We aren’t a good Christian& Moslem if we were hard on Oby& closed our eyes against El -Rufai, Fayemi& Emir SANUSI. Yes they have arrived in SA b4 our decision to withdraw, but they were clever by half to go to nearby beautiful town Stellenbosch & pretend not to be in Cape Town
— Woye (@woye1) September 5, 2019
Nasir Elrufai is at the WEF.
Kayode Fayemi, is at the WEF.
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, is at the WEF.
Amina Jane Mohammed, is at the WEF.
But Bashir Ahmad, Ayourb & their bunch of APC crackheads only saw Madam Oby.
So pained Buhari didn't get his estacode allowance.
Hypocrites!
— Adinnu Teflon Don (@AnazroeDon) September 5, 2019
Friends and handlers of Elrufai, Fayemi and Co should do them a favour and just keep quiet!
Granted, they were in SA before Nigeria decided to suspend relations with SA, they should have suspended whatever they were doing and return immediately!
But, no perception management
— Emmanuel Nwachukwu (@EmmaNwachukwu_) September 5, 2019
If EL-Rufai and Kayode Fayemi are in South Africa for the World Economic Forum, how then did Nigeria boycott it?
That's an entire squad of Nigeria 's elected leaders from the ruling party.
— The Papi (@TheTawah_) September 5, 2019