Oby Ezekwesili is currently at the ongoing World Economic Forum for Africa holding in South Africa between Wednesday, September 4 and Friday, the 6th.
Oby Ezekwesili is currently at the ongoing World Economic Forum for Africa holding in South Africa between Wednesday, September 4 and Friday, the 6th. The former Minister of Education was a panelist at the ongoing summit where she also discussed the problem of xenophobic violence between African communities and the damage that it will have on economies if not remedied.
Besides Oby Ezekwesili, the chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia also attended the summit. He was also a panelist alongside Ezekwesili
The Nigerian Government had shunned the Forum in protest against xenophobic attacks against Nigerians resident in South Africa. President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, tweeted that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was to represent Nigeria at the WEF, but had called it off in reaction to these gruesome attacks on Nigerians.
Besides Nigeria, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi equally pulled out from the summit to register their displeasure at the xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa.
Meanwhile, Ezekwesili’s participation at the World Economic Forum on Africa has received mixed reactions on Twitter. President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad @BashirAhmaad, set the tone when he criticised Ezekwesili’s attendance at the Forum.
He had tweeted, “Surprised to see some Nigerian experts in everything governance who spend most of their time lecturing the Government on empathy and the art of prioritizing national interest over individual benefits still went ahead to attend the summit.”
His comment quickly drew comments about the human rights activist’s decision to be at the Forum. See some reactions below:
“Madam @obyezeks should quickly address this and explain to Nigerians why she should be attending the WEF in South Africa when are people are senselessly been killed there.
The FG should “advice her” against going there in support of Nigeria and other countries pulling out” —D @Udoh_D
“@obyezeks and @wef Despite the travel advisory warning Nigerians that SA is unsafe for now.” —David Atta @the_davidatta
“Na we tell government to boycott o. These guys were busy playing draft until it got messy. Now forming advisory. Something that started on Sunday. Abeg make we hear word.” —Daniel Ukoha @UkohaDaniel
“@obyezeks is right to attend. The woman is a nationalist. I know she has a valid reason of going. She’s unafraid, uncowed, unbossed! Kudos ma.” —John Chudi! @capacitychudy
So if we had elected madam oby as our 1st female president, this is how she would have gone to South Africa & attended the World Economic Summit despite the #XenophobicAttacks on Nigerians @obyezeks pls remain in S.Africa, dont come back. Thanks #SayNoToXenophobia @nnaji_kate
Madam Oby in 2015 when I challenged her continuous support of Buhari despite d killings going on at d time. Madam made excuses 4 Bubu back then cos it paid 2 support him. It pays to be in the World Economic Summit too. There has never been a bone of activism in that woman. @DOFFISHAL
Madam Oby should have just boycotted the WEF. Her actions epitomizes the twitter hypocrisy we’re talking about. Call out the govt when things do not favour you but once they’re part of same govt, everything becomes okay. SMH @chinedu0925
Madam Oby has shown herself to be a fraud. Wrong move at a time the nation is outraged about the killings in South Africa. She has put personal gain above national interest. Shame. @JoshuaW45512670
While Jim Ovia is yet to talk about his attendance, Ezekwesili who was the ex-presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria in the February 2019 general election took to her social media to talk about the summit
I used my Plenary Session here at
#AF19 to place #BlackOnBlackViolence #AttackOfNigerians #AttackOfOtherAfricans at CENTER of what will be discussed over the next 3 days. S. Africa should not get off hosting global events and be a place that attacks Nigerians & others. No.
@obyezeksI shall be hosting a Special Session here to push the specific things that
@GovernmentZA @CyrilRamaphosa must do to quickly FIX the BROKEN SYSTEM of security and protection for Nigerians and other Africans resident amongst them. These #Attacks must not reoccur. Enough!
