Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has defended his recent call for the nationalisation of MTN and other South African-owned companies operating in Nigeria, insisting that the country must prioritise the protection of its citizens over foreign investment.
Oshiomhole made the remarks on Tuesday during an interview on Arise News, where he responded to renewed xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
The former Edo State governor had earlier, while speaking on the floor of the Senate, urged Nigeria to adopt a firm reciprocal approach in its foreign relations, particularly in response to attacks on Nigerians abroad.
He stated that while MTN is publicly listed and has Nigerian shareholders, the country should consider taking control away from South African interests.
“I am aware that MTN is quoted, and therefore Nigerian shareholders can hold on, but we take away the South African rights,” he said.
Oshiomhole further suggested that the Federal Government could nationalise affected companies, including financial institutions, and later re-privatise them under Nigerian ownership.
“And because of the issue… you nationalise, and then you re-privatise it so that Nigerians can take it over, and the profit they are taking out of Nigeria will be retained here. There will be no South African share in it,” he added.
He also claimed that South African authorities only responded meaningfully after diplomatic pressure from Nigeria, although he did not provide evidence to support the claim.
“Thereafter, President Ramaphosa came out clearly to condemn the attack on Black people. He didn’t do that until I attacked his interests,” he said.
Oshiomhole maintained that human life must take precedence over economic interests, arguing that no investment is worth the loss of Nigerian lives.
“If anything leads to the death of Nigeria, what is the value of wealth to the dead? We don’t want investors who invest at the expense of human blood. Even in my poverty, I value my life,” he said.
He reiterated, “Life is more important; we don’t want investors who invest at the expense of human blood. If you need Nigerian blood to service and you don’t care about Nigerian human blood because you want to attract investors, even in my poverty, I value my life.”
The senator linked his position to what he described as repeated attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, alleging that justice had not been served in previous incidents.
“When a country, for the first time, killed Nigerians, they got away with it. The second time, they killed Nigerians; they got away with it. Third time, they killed Nigerians; they got away with it,” he said.
He added that under former President Muhammadu Buhari, there was an agreement which he claimed South Africa violated, insisting that perpetrators of killings had not been prosecuted.
“You are talking about law. Is there no law protecting the life of foreigners who live in your country? Even if they were there illegally, there are legal ways to repatriate them, to deport them,” he added.
Elijah Adeyemi
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