Lawmakers Want Soludo To Galvanise Public-Spirited Individuals, Institutions To Rescue Stranded Anambra Indigenes In South Africa

RAYMOND OZOJI reports 

Anambra State House of Assembly members have called on Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo to as a matter of urgent public importance galvanise public-spirited individuals, philanthropic organisations and the organised private sector to rescue Anambra indigenes suffering xenophobic attacks in South Africa. 

The call which was a motion moved by the majority leader of the House of Assembly Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme, who also represents Ekwusigo state constituency, was aimed at repatriating them as his motion revealed that they needed urgent help to come back home because the country is no longer safe and conducive for them to continue living. 

Ofodeme who read his motion with an emotion-ladened voice, explained that the situation was no longer what they could handle by themselves as confirmed information revealed that most of the victims of the xenophobia have been chased out from the houses they either built or bought with years of relentless toil in the host country. 

The lawmaker however maintained that while the House of Assembly urges the governor to expedite actions for the rescue of Anambra indigenes facing life-threatening attacks in South Africa, he also stated that the situation should be a lesson to others to enable them to imbibe think-home philosophy while sojourning abroad. 

He was of the opinion that rather than have all their eggs in one basket overseas, they should also endeavour to invest in their own country or home state as backup plan for the rainy day. 

Contributing to the motion, the lawmaker representing Ihiala 1 state constituency, Hon. Jude Chimezie Ngobili, suggested that palliatives should be put in place so that they can be used to cater for the victims of the xenophobic attacks when they are eventually brought back home. 

Ngobili also noted that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) mantra of being their brothers' keepers should come in handy such that when the Anambra indigenes who were rejected in South Africa return home, they would be reintegrated back to the society. 

##