The twin-issue of an alleged $9.3 million arms deal scandal and the handling of investigation into the tragedy trailing the collapse of building at the Synagogue Church for All Nations church, are reportedly generating tension between Nigeria and South Africa.
A diplomatic source revealed that the brewing disagreement could snowball into a major diplomatic row.
Nigeria and South-Africa have been in and out of frosty relations since the incumbent President, Jacob Zuma assumed office.
His administration’s antagonistic disposition is allegedly due to President Goodluck Jonathan’s emergence, which denied his very close friend in Nigeria, the presidency.
The Nigerian friend is still eyeing the top job and the latest moves by the South-African government are being reportedly perceived in security circle as deliberate acts to embarrass the Nigerian government and possibly weaken the presidency ahead of 2015 presidential election.A diplomatic source disclosed that the Nigerian government was shocked by the decision of Pretoria to rush to the media over the arms business, without exploring the usual diplomatic channels with the Nigerian government.
The source further explained that in a normal circumstance, the South African government should have contacted its Nigerian counterpart once those caught with the controversial cash had disclosed that they were executing a contract for the Nigerian security agencies with the active backing of the Jonathan administration.
Saturday Tribune was equally informed that the move by South Africa to criminalise the issue and make the cash movement to appear like money-laundering, confirmed the alleged politics behind the rejection by the South Africa, of diplomatic moves by the Nigerian government, to amicably resolve the issue.
With the issue in public and South Africa allegedly drawing political capital out of it, Saturday Tribune was told that the Nigerian government would have no choice than to react appropriately.
Government officials in Nigeria, especially those in security circle, were also said to have been embarrassed by the undisguised move by Pretoria to allegedly blow the tragedy in Synagogue out of proportion by mentioning casualty figure that did not reflect the realities on ground.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had created doubts around the figure of South African persons killed in the building that collapsed at the church, as announced by Zuma.
Zuma had said the 65 persons he mentioned as killed in the tragedy, was a result of his projection based on the hundreds of South Africans that visited the church at the time the building collapsed.
At the time he was making his claim, the official casualty figure from NEMA which conducted the search and rescue, was 60 for all the nationalitiesW involved.
South Africa also deployed its search and rescue team as well as DNA experts to identify its nationals involved in the tragedy.
The move is being interpreted by Nigerian officials on ground as a vote of no confidence in the Nigerians handling the Synagogue crisis and an alleged further denigration of Jonathan’s administration’s capacity to handle emergencies.
A foreign affairs source noted that the Zuma administration had become particularly hostile since it emerged that Nigeria’s economy might be doing better than South Africa’s, which had reportedly put his administration under pressure from local activists who have continually harassed him for alleged corrupt practices.
The latest move is being read in diplomatic circle as Zuma fighting his own battles against Nigeria, alongside with his friend’s.
Saturday Tribune learnt that Nigeria might in days ahead resort to the same tactic it employed during the yellow fever clearance card which saw the two countries in retaliatory passenger-deporting saga, until South Africa bowed and apologised to Nigeria, though it was first to deport Nigerians over the controversial card.
The then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, called it “eye-for-eye” policy.
The latest brewing crisis could be of greater damage, as revealed by diplomatic sources, if Jonathan’s administration would be going the whole hog as major bilateral trade could be affected.
South African companies are major players in Nigeria’s telecommunications and cable TV sectors, while Nigerian firms have consistently complained of harsh operational climate in South Africa.
South Africa has given an indication that the $9.3m cash is likely to be forfeited to it.
Already North Gauteng High Court in South Africa, has ordered the freezing of the said cash.
Mum was the word at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as none of the officials contacted, consented to saying anything official on the matter.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, was said to be out of the country.
An official who refused to be quoted said South Africa is likely to have an upper hand in the raging crisis even if its objectives are not altruistic, because it has the laws of the land to bank on, in confiscating the disputed cash, which was obviously from the coffers of the Nigerian government.
The official, however, did not rule out a harsher response from Nigeria if necessary.
The Bombardier Challenger 6000 jet that flew the cash into South Africa is originally owned by the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, a known ally of President Jonathan.
Source: Tribune
A diplomatic source revealed that the brewing disagreement could snowball into a major diplomatic row.
Nigeria and South-Africa have been in and out of frosty relations since the incumbent President, Jacob Zuma assumed office.
His administration’s antagonistic disposition is allegedly due to President Goodluck Jonathan’s emergence, which denied his very close friend in Nigeria, the presidency.
The Nigerian friend is still eyeing the top job and the latest moves by the South-African government are being reportedly perceived in security circle as deliberate acts to embarrass the Nigerian government and possibly weaken the presidency ahead of 2015 presidential election.A diplomatic source disclosed that the Nigerian government was shocked by the decision of Pretoria to rush to the media over the arms business, without exploring the usual diplomatic channels with the Nigerian government.
The source further explained that in a normal circumstance, the South African government should have contacted its Nigerian counterpart once those caught with the controversial cash had disclosed that they were executing a contract for the Nigerian security agencies with the active backing of the Jonathan administration.
Saturday Tribune was equally informed that the move by South Africa to criminalise the issue and make the cash movement to appear like money-laundering, confirmed the alleged politics behind the rejection by the South Africa, of diplomatic moves by the Nigerian government, to amicably resolve the issue.
With the issue in public and South Africa allegedly drawing political capital out of it, Saturday Tribune was told that the Nigerian government would have no choice than to react appropriately.
Government officials in Nigeria, especially those in security circle, were also said to have been embarrassed by the undisguised move by Pretoria to allegedly blow the tragedy in Synagogue out of proportion by mentioning casualty figure that did not reflect the realities on ground.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had created doubts around the figure of South African persons killed in the building that collapsed at the church, as announced by Zuma.
Zuma had said the 65 persons he mentioned as killed in the tragedy, was a result of his projection based on the hundreds of South Africans that visited the church at the time the building collapsed.
At the time he was making his claim, the official casualty figure from NEMA which conducted the search and rescue, was 60 for all the nationalitiesW involved.
South Africa also deployed its search and rescue team as well as DNA experts to identify its nationals involved in the tragedy.
The move is being interpreted by Nigerian officials on ground as a vote of no confidence in the Nigerians handling the Synagogue crisis and an alleged further denigration of Jonathan’s administration’s capacity to handle emergencies.
A foreign affairs source noted that the Zuma administration had become particularly hostile since it emerged that Nigeria’s economy might be doing better than South Africa’s, which had reportedly put his administration under pressure from local activists who have continually harassed him for alleged corrupt practices.
The latest move is being read in diplomatic circle as Zuma fighting his own battles against Nigeria, alongside with his friend’s.
Saturday Tribune learnt that Nigeria might in days ahead resort to the same tactic it employed during the yellow fever clearance card which saw the two countries in retaliatory passenger-deporting saga, until South Africa bowed and apologised to Nigeria, though it was first to deport Nigerians over the controversial card.
The then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, called it “eye-for-eye” policy.
The latest brewing crisis could be of greater damage, as revealed by diplomatic sources, if Jonathan’s administration would be going the whole hog as major bilateral trade could be affected.
South African companies are major players in Nigeria’s telecommunications and cable TV sectors, while Nigerian firms have consistently complained of harsh operational climate in South Africa.
South Africa has given an indication that the $9.3m cash is likely to be forfeited to it.
Already North Gauteng High Court in South Africa, has ordered the freezing of the said cash.
Mum was the word at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as none of the officials contacted, consented to saying anything official on the matter.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, was said to be out of the country.
An official who refused to be quoted said South Africa is likely to have an upper hand in the raging crisis even if its objectives are not altruistic, because it has the laws of the land to bank on, in confiscating the disputed cash, which was obviously from the coffers of the Nigerian government.
The official, however, did not rule out a harsher response from Nigeria if necessary.
The Bombardier Challenger 6000 jet that flew the cash into South Africa is originally owned by the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, a known ally of President Jonathan.
Source: Tribune
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