To avoid harassment abroad, the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA) has urged public officials to be proactive in their service delivery.
Mr Ben Okoli, President of NICASA, made this appeal in a phone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.
Okoli spoke against the backdrop of grieving African nationals attacking foreign public officials over issues of poor governance in their home countries.
To avoid attacks, he believes that public officials should be more proactive and live up to citizens’ expectations.
“I do not support public official harassment; it is not something we should encourage; rather, we should encourage Nigerians at home to embrace and support the new government.”
“At the same time, we will urge Nigeria’s political class to live up to citizens’ expectations rather than pander to the gallery.”
“When people’s hopes and expectations are dashed and their needs are not met, they become resentful and, of course, attack.”
“Even if we don’t encourage or promote it, people will take laws into their own hands.” I encourage political officeholders to do their jobs.
READ ALSO: HOW TO APPLY FOR 2023 COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS
“To protect and promote the interests of the masses rather than their own; when the masses are disenfranchised and their welfare is neglected, they become resentful,” Okoli said.
He explained that this could lead to unnecessary attacks on political officeholders found outside Nigeria’s borders.
He advised the political class to avoid doing anything that could expose them to attack.
“So, I hope they will learn their lessons from what has happened, even within other African countries,” said the NICASA president.
“We do not want this to happen to our political office holders because they deserve to be respected and treated with dignity.”
“It is important to note that you cannot prevent the masses from overreacting to what is going on.”
NAN
