By Ife Osemedua
365Daily– Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has said that there are many lessons to be learnt by Nigeria from the recent riots in South Africa, which was triggered by the controversial imprisonment of the country’s former President, Jacob Zuma, over fraud allegations.
The development elicited widespread violence that resulted in the looting and burning down of several business establishments by the rioters who were said to be sympathetic to the embattled former president.
Shocking scenes were seen on television of the rioters looting everything in sight, including pigs, electronic devices, furniture, groceries and even some bizarre items such as casket, blood from blood bank, drugs from pharmacy and sex toys.
This led to the avoidable deaths of close to 100 people and destruction of countless properties across South Africa.
Seemingly making allusion to the Nigerian situation, especially with the current controversy over the Federal Government’s handling of the cases involving some known secessionist advocates, the former Minister warned on his Facebook page:
“We must stop planting the seeds of division and violence. We must stop pulling the tail of the lion and baiting its rage. When you kill a madman you will know he has followers!”
Fani-Kayode said he blamed the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, for the crisis in South Africa, as he accused him of persecuting a man who is popular with his people and considered as a hero among them.
According to Fani-Kayode: “His Zulu people have risen up and over 70 people have been killed so far. There is rage on the streets and the loser here is Cyril Ramaphosa.
“When you lock up, persecute or kill those who are regarded as heroes by their ethnic group, you are waking up a lion that cannot be controlled or contained.
“You are also stirring up and kindling a fire which may consume the entire nation. Nigeria has much to learn from this.
“We must be fair and just. We must learn to fear God and desist from targeting and persecuting the innocent.”