Nigerians demand removal of High Commissioner in Kenya

The president of the National Association of Nigerians in Kenya, Joe Oladimeji, who spoke to newsmen on behalf of other Nigerians after a protest march by hundreds of Nigerians at the Nigerian High Commission in Nairobi Tuesday over what they called “harassment by the Kenyan government”, asked the Nigerian government to intervene to stop the […]

The president of the National Association of Nigerians in Kenya, Joe Oladimeji, who spoke to newsmen on behalf of other Nigerians after a protest march by hundreds of Nigerians at the Nigerian High Commission in Nairobi Tuesday over what they called “harassment by the Kenyan government”, asked the Nigerian government to intervene to stop the harassment.
Oladimeji was quoted by Nairobi based The Star as saying that since the deportation of Nigerian businessman Anthony Chinedu early June, the government of Kenya had been harassing and intimidating Nigerians, labelling them as drug traffickers, con-men and other names, even though they remained law abiding.
In an earlier interaction, the High Commissioner told Daily Trust he was in Nigeria and would stay till July end but declined a request for a chat on the issue. He said the problem had died down and needed no further mention.
“I am currently in Abuja for the moment and would not be back to Nairobi till the end of the month. The issue of deportation has been resolved and there is nothing for me to add. I don’t have any other thing to share at the moment as well”, he said.
An officer at the Nigerian High Commission in Nairobi however confirmed the protest and complaints yesterday, but declined giving details, saying as a civil servant, she was not allowed to speak on the issue.  “Yes, it happened, but please leave me out of this, I want to keep my job, I plead with you earnestly”, she said.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters in Nairobi, Oladimeji said the government had failed to handle their issues fairly without intimidation, adding that police officers without identity were arresting Nigerians and extorting money from them.
“The immigration officers have told us that they cannot renew our visas because they have orders from above. We know it is the government which has given those orders. A group of students from Nigeria were denied permit and turned away at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport,” Oladimeji said. The Nigerians said it has become difficult and expensive for a Nigerian to live and do business in Kenya.
“We want our ambassador Akin Oyateru to be recalled. Recently he accompanied President Uhuru Kenyatta to Nigeria and told President Goodluck Jonathan that everything was well in Kenya. This man does not know his job. We are suffering and he is doing little to help us,” they said. Another Nigerian, Festus Ade, said the government should tell them to leave Kenya instead of harassing them.
“Leaving Kenya has consequences. Once I arrive in Lagos , I will mobilise Nigerians to flush out Kenyans. Kenyans should be aware because if this is not resolved, they will have it rough in Nigeria,” Ade said. He said the Commissioner accompanied President Uhuru Kenyatta to Nigeria and has not returned. Nigerians were told to meet the deputy high commissioner last evening to present their grievances.
“Its so sad because the good relationship we have built with Kenya over the last 40 years, Oyateru has destroyed it in a month. During Wilcox Wigwe’s time, we used to have Niger-night and Nolly -wood stars and Nigerian musicians used to come to Kenya,” Ade said.
He said Oyateru is not keen on holding such events and consequently Nigeria’s reputation has been tainted.
“This is the problem with Nigerians, they like holding big positions but they don’t like working, they pose big, yet do nothing in office, too bad. We plead with the Nigerian government to remove him”, said another Nigerian simply called James.
Nigeria and Kenya have long standing cordial relations, but repeated reports of belligerence and hostility towards Nigerians living in Kenya started emerging shortly after the March 4 presidential elections which brought Uhuru Kenyatta to power through a narrow victory over former prime minister Raila Odinga. Some Nigerians in Nairobi allege that the new president has an axe to grind against them as they seemed more favourably disposed to an Odinga presidency which never materialised.