A South African community has stormed the streets of Eastern Cape to demand the deportation of Nigerians Involved In Igbo King Coronation
They insisted that “there is nowhere in our constitution that makes provision for a Nigerian from the Igbo tribe to come and become coronated as a king of the Eastern Cape.
“We have taken great exception to the disrespect and the provocation of this coronation, and we want the Nigerian government to come out strongly against it.”
The protest, led by members of the political group ActionSA alongside traditional leaders and community members, comes amid growing outrage over what demonstrators described as an affront to the sovereignty, constitutional order, and traditional leadership structures of the province.
Tensions have since escalated in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province following the controversial coronation of the Igbo traditional ruler. The residents are demanding the immediate deportation of Nigerians linked to the event and warned of possible violent resistance if authorities fail to act.
Speaking to SABC News during the demonstration, one of the protesters declared solidarity with local traditional authorities while condemning the coronation, which reportedly took place in East London, also referred to as KuGompo City.
“First of all, we are here in solidarity with the traditional leadership of the Eastern Cape, all of the traditional leaders, and also the people of the Eastern Cape,” the protester said in a video making the rounds on the internet.
“Let me just put up front that ActionSA’s policy about illegal immigration is very clear. If you are in this country illegally, and you do anything illegal, you are going to be sent back home.
“This is a sovereign nation. It is our nation, we love it, and we are protected by a constitution.
“There is nowhere in our constitution that makes provision for a Nigerian from the Igbo tribe to come and become coronated as a king of the Eastern Cape.”
The protester further alleged that statements made during the coronation heightened tensions, accusing organisers of attempting to establish a parallel authority structure within the province.
“But beyond that, the utterances that were made at that coronation is what really galls us as a party, as ActionSA.
“The utterances were that they are establishing a kingship in the Eastern Cape and a homeland.
“We have a history of homelands in this province, a painful history of the homeland of the former Siskind, the former Transkind, where people were moved in there after being expropriated, having their land expropriated.
“They had limited opportunities, they are still some of the poorest people in our province, and we are not going to tolerate the establishment of another homeland.”
Drawing parallels with apartheid-era policies, the protester warned against any perceived attempt to recreate ethnically defined territories.
“They went further, though, and they said that they are going to encourage their brothers and sisters in Nigeria, in their hundreds of thousands, to come and establish a homeland in this province,” the protester said.
“That is not going to happen, because this province is not up for the taking. Here are our traditional leaders behind me.
“We respect them, there are five kingships that are respected by the president, inaugurated and recognized by our President and our constitution.”
The protester also dismissed claims reportedly attributed to the Nigerian diplomatic mission that the coronation was merely symbolic.
“So, I want to go further to say that the embassy of Nigeria said that it was just a customary thing, it wasn’t much, and they do it all over the world. It is not true,” the protester said.
“We have taken great exception to the disrespect and the provocation of this coronation, and we want the Nigerian government to come out strongly against it.
“More importantly, we want our government to make an unambiguous statement about their respect and recognition of our existing traditional leaders, and that they will never respect a kingship belonging to the Igbo nation in the Eastern Cape or in South Africa.” – Saharareporters.
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South Africans Demand Deportation of Nigerians Involved In Igbo King Coronation
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