Content area
Full Text
Abstract
This paper looks at the logotherapeutic view of xenophobia in South Africa. The author would like to express displeasure at how many Nigerians had quickly reacted by condemning the action and narrated how many countries, especially Nigeria, had given South Africa assistance to gain freedom from the apartheid regime. This was in virtually all dailies in Nigeria. We have not shown maturity in this regard. We need to show maturity like the way the President; Umaru Yar'Adua handled the case by visiting South Africa to discuss with President Thabo Mbeki of Souh Africa. However, the author personally condemns the barbaric act of xenophobic violence in South Africa.
Introduction
The President of Nigeria first of all "lauded the South African government for its handling of the situation and for not planning to deport illegal immigrant like most countries would have done." Then, "he averred that good governance and accountability on the continent were the only way to overcome its problems".
Furthermore, the President said that "these challenges are surmountable only if we all sufficiently subscribe to the tenets of democracy, good governance, accountability, transparency, due process, equity, justice and focus on pro-people leadership across the continent". (Adewuyi, 2008).
We must also realize that "South Africa's president, Thabo Mbeki, had earlier tendered apology to the Nigerian leader concerning the riots that had affected Nigerians in the country. He also stated that his government was against the placement of affected people in special refuge camps as it would be detrimental to their reintegration into the society" (Adewuyi, 2008).
This is why we all need to work with the government to find out the cause of the xenophobic attack and see how we can all prevent future occurrence. We do not need to deflate the ego of the South Africans and lower the self esteem of the people because we had helped them in the past.
We must also realize that when we were helping them, we did not sign any contract with either the government of South Africa or its people that after assisting them to gain their freedom our people from Nigeria and other parts of Africa would migrate to their country to live and work. As a result of this, we do not need...