The former Nigerian Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has issued a
scathing public memo to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, sharply criticizing his foreign tour to France, Kenya, and Rwanda amidst wave of xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerian citizens in South Africa.
Ezekwesili labeled the President’s absence as a “total absence of leadership,” urging him to return home and address the escalating crisis that has reportedly claimed the lives of at least two Nigerians.
The memo, which quickly gained traction, highlights the recurring nature of the violence against Nigerians in S’Africa, asserting that such incidents are no longer matters for routine diplomatic statements.
Ezekwesili contends that the Nigerian state’s perceived inaction confirms a lack of value for the lives and dignity of its citizens, both at home and abroad.
She dismissed current government responses, such as summoning envoys and issuing advisories, as insufficient, emphasizing urgent need for measurable protection for Nigerians residing in South Africa.
The recent surge in anti-immigrant sentiment and violence in South Africa, observed around late April and early May 2026, has seen widespread protests and harassment in major cities, including Johannesburg and Pretoria. 
Reports confirm the tragic deaths of
Nigerian citizens Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew, with further
demonstrations anticipated between May 4th and 8th, 2026.
The Nigerian Federal Government has, in response, summoned S’Africa’s Acting High Commissioner to address the grave situation.
Ezekwesili powerfully invoked Nigeria’s historical role in supporting South Africa’s liberation struggle against apartheid. 
She reminded President Tinubu of Nigeria’s significant financial, diplomatic, and moral contributions to the African National Congress (ANC) and other movements, including the Southern Africa Relief Fund, to which ordinary
Nigerians contributed.
She lamented that this shared history is now being dishonored by the slain bodies of Nigerian citizens on South African streets, underscoring the profound
betrayal felt by many.
In her memo, Ezekwesili demanded concrete actions from the Nigerian government. She called for an immediate demand for publication of full account of reported attacks, injuries, deaths, the destroyed businesses, arrests, prosecutions, and compensation claims from the South African government.
Crucially, she urged Nigeria to demand a “time-bound justice framework” from Pretoria, one that explicitly addresses investigation, prosecution, restitution, and public reporting, warning that anything less would reward impunity.
Furthermore, she stressed the necessity of strengthening consular protection systems in all Nigerian embassies abroad to ensure citizens can access emergency help and expect decisive action from their country.Ezekwesili concluded by asserting that a government unable to defend the dignity of its citizens abroad further weakens its authority and legitimacy.
She posited that President Tinubu could compel his South African counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa, to act
decisively if Nigeria demonstrates a readiness to deploy every possible resource to protect its citizens.
Ezekwesili memo serves as a stark reminder that Nigerian lives must matter everywhere, especially in South Africa, and calls for an immediate re-evaluation of the President’s priorities.
