Federal government has assured that Nigerians residing in Ghana will not be made to suffer for crimes they haven’t not committed.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, gave the assurance while reacting to the news of deportation of Nigerians from Ghana.
Dabiri-Erewa who revealed that the Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana, Olufemi Abikoye, was on top of the situation, appealed for calm adding that “ the matter would soon be resolved”
According to the Senior Presidential Aide, “The story that hundreds of Nigerians being deported from Ghana is disturbing and worrisome”
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“The good thing is that Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana is on top of the situation.
She noted that the Ambassador has met with the Comptroller General of the Immigration in Ghana, adding that “they both had a very productive discussion. But here is the situation, if indeed you commit a crime you have to face the penalties. But what we are saying is that a bad apple should not spoil the bunch. Let every case be treated on its merit. That’s what our ambassador is demanding and that’s what Nigeria is asking for.”
“It’s important that both nations look at this situation, not gloss over it to ensure that our relationships continue to get better and not retrogress. So, we appeal to Nigerians that wherever you are, you are the number one ambassador of the country.
Nigerians who migrated from the country in the wake of current economic challenges, have been subject of attacks, especially within African.
Several Nigerians had lost their lives to Xenophobic attacks in South Africa, while thousand were and are still subject of mistreats in Libya.
But Dabiri- Eruwa said Nigerian government will not abandon any of her citizens adding that “wherever any Nigerian is deemed to be improperly treated by any country the matter will be taken up. Nigerian Ambassador in Ghana is on top of this situation; he’s meeting the relevant bodies and briefing the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria will not gloss over this.”
She however appealed to Nigerians to stay calm, be law abiding and at the same time, Nigeria will not tolerate indecent treatment of its citizens.
“One bad apple should not spoil the whole bunch. So we should not treat one badly because another one committed a crime. If you commit a crime, you pay the penalty. We will continue to see how it goes but I’m glad that the Ambassador to Ghana is on top of the situation.”
Asked to disclosed some of the crimes allegedly committed by the deportees by the Ghanaian authorities, Dabiri-Erewa said “Don’t forget we have issues with the traders which we resolved with Mr. President intervention. So, this too will be resolved.
Everything will be done to ensure, like I said, you will not suffer for a crime you did not commit. If however you commit a crime, then you have to face the penalty. Nigeria and Ghana have agreed on this. We will look at each case on its own merit.”
