Senator Adams Oshiomhole has accused Arise Television anchor Rufai Oseni of twisting facts and “lying” over comments relating to xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa and insecurity in northern Nigeria.
Oshiomhole spoke on Wednesday during an appearance on Politics Today, where he defended his earlier position that Nigeria should consider economic measures against South African companies operating in the country if attacks on Nigerians persist.
According to the former Edo State governor, Nigerians in South Africa have repeatedly suffered harassment, killings, looting, and destruction of businesses without adequate response from the South African government.
“Nigerian citizens are being harassed and killed in South Africa, not for the first time, not for the second time, not for the third time,” he said.
Oshiomhole argued that many Nigerians travel to South Africa with personal capital to establish small businesses, only to see their investments destroyed during xenophobic attacks.
“There are cases in which Nigerian stores have been burnt, looted, and the owners wasted. My problem is that the South African government is not on record as having prosecuted or sentenced anyone for obvious looting, arson, or even murder. That implied state endorsement of a wrong policy,” he stated.
The senator said Nigeria should adopt a reciprocal economic response by targeting major South African firms operating in the country if attacks on Nigerians continue abroad.
“If they are being chased away for doing small, small businesses, why should we allow South Africans to do big, big businesses here?” he asked.
He mentioned companies such as MTN Group, Shoprite Holdings, and Stanbic Bank as examples of South African corporate interests operating in Nigeria.
Oshiomhole maintained that profits repatriated by such firms far outweigh earnings by Nigerians running small businesses in South Africa.
He also reacted to claims made by Oseni, insisting that his statements had been misrepresented.
“I saw this morning Rufai of Arise Television say Oshiomhole lied,” he said, maintaining that his argument was focused on economic reciprocity and fairness.
Beyond the South Africa issue, Oshiomhole also criticised Oseni over remarks concerning insecurity in northern Nigeria.
“He asked me that day about people in the North where Nigerians are being killed. He got it completely wrong. He said I lied; he is actually the pathological liar, he twisted facts,” Oshiomhole said.
The senator defended the federal government’s handling of terrorism-related cases, noting that some individuals convicted of aiding terrorism had already had their assets forfeited to the government.
He added that insecurity should not be viewed as a regional issue but as a national challenge.
