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Why I am attending WEF in South Africa, Oby Ezekwesili explains
A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has explained the rationale behind her decision to attend the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa in South Africa.
WuzupNigeria reports that the former presidential candidate and founder of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia, on Wednesday, came under attack from Nigerians on social media for attending the programme despite the Nigerian government’s withdrawal from the event.
Other African countries like Rwanda, DR Congo and Malawi also boycotted the forum being held in Capetown, South Africa, from September 4-6 over the xenophobic attacks.
Among those who reacted to Ezekwesili’s attendance was an aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmaad, who took to his Twitter page to disclose that the former Minister and some other Nigerians were attending the WEF in South Africa on their own after the government had boycotted the programme.
An online news platform had reported Bashir’s tweet with the headline “Oby Ezekwesili attending WEF on her own – Buhari’s aide”
Responding to the news report, Ezekwesili tweeted that she would be attending the WEF because of citizens at risk in South Africa.
She noted that she does not need Buhari’s government to decide her participation in WEF.
Ezekwesili tweeted:
“Please send that aide to school to get proper education.
“Who told him that a private citizen like me needs their Nigerian government to decide my participation at WEF ? Imagine.
“I am doing more for our at-risk citizens.
“Who has time for their nonsense politicking with citizens’ lives?”
READ ALSO: Xenophobia: Nigerians drag Oby Ezekwesili for attending WEF in South Africa
She thereafter posted a series of tweets explaining her decision to be part of the programme.
Ezekwesili wrote:
“Those who have genuine concerns about my being at @wef in South Africa should please know that my decision to be here was thoroughly considered. I am in South Africa leveraging my ensure that @GovernmentZA (South African Government) never again looks away while our citizens are attacked, maimed & killed.
“My Life Vision is to always stand for the weaker. This is a role I play within & without Nigeria. For me, the next three days in South Africa are programmed to achieve a set of specific action by the @GovernmentZA. Our Citizens’ preservation is what matters to me not the noise.
“Those of you who take delight in making ‘Politics’ of our Citizens’ Lives can carry on with your usual trade. I stand strong on doing the things one can do to safeguard lives. Citizens’ Lives are too sacred & important for me to be drawn into your latest ‘playground’. Never.”
See her tweet:
Those who have genuine concerns about my being at @wef in South Africa, should please know that my decision to be here was thoroughly considered.
I am in South Africa leveraging my ensure that @GovernmentZA never again looks away while our citizens are attacked, maimed & killed.— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) September 4, 2019
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