Veteran journalist and former presidential aide, Reuben Abati, has called on Nigerians to rally behind Mexico in its opening World Cup game against South Africa, saying there are still fears of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in the Southern African country.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday, Abati referred to efforts by the Federal Government to evacuate Nigerians affected by xenophobic violence in South Africa.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson had said earlier that arrangements had been concluded to bring back Nigerians that registered for evacuation, with an initial batch of 278 persons expected to return home,” he said.
Abati said the government had indicated that it would assist and rehabilitate five batches of returnees and that over 1,000 Nigerians had indicated willingness to return.
He said the situation highlighted the need for better living conditions in Nigeria. He said citizens would be less likely to seek opportunities abroad if basic services like electricity, water supply and healthcare were adequately provided at home.
On football, Abati told Nigerians to back Mexico in its World Cup opener against South Africa at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
He joked that if he was for South Africa, people will say Nigerians are hogging opportunities meant for South Africans.
Abati said: “The spokesman for the ministry of foreign affairs has said all the arrangements have been made for those Nigerians who have signed up to be brought back to their country from South Africa because of the xenophobic attack. The first batch of 278 of them will be assisted, will be taken care of, rehabilitated by the Nigerian government.
‘We have been told there will be five batches. We hope that all the five batches over 1000 Nigerians saying that they will come back to their country. There should be a moral story there that if our country is properly organised then nobody will need to go and seek electricity supply and water supply and good health care in other countries of the world.
“But today South Africa and Mexico will play the first game at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. I am appealing to all Nigerians to support Mexico so that we do not even get to the point where the South Africans will say “these Nigerians are here again. They are doing their job for them and there will be another wave of xenophobic attacks.
“I think we will be safer to support Mexico in this first match of the World Cup. The match is at 1pm Mexico local time, that is 7pm this evening and I expect Nigerians to support Mexico.
They say we don’t like them. They say we’re doing their job. Let’s not do their job for them. “We’re going to support Mexico.”
