Akeredolu, who received the
returnees in his office also promised to give necessary support and provide an
enabling environment for the returnees to start new lives.
Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu
of Ondo State, on Friday, presented cash gifts of N100,000 to each of the South
African returnees of Ondo origin for resettlement activities in their various
communities.
Represented by his deputy,
Agboola Ajayi, the governor particularly condemned the xenophobic attacks on
Nigerians and other nationals living in South Africa by the indigenes.
He described the attacks as
unwarranted, barbaric and condemnable.
Akeredolu commended
President Muhammadu Buhari for his visit to South Africa to condemn the ugly
incident and find a lasting solution to it.
He charged the returnees
not to be discouraged by what had happened to them but to be ready to start a
new life as they returned safely to Nigeria, their fatherland.
“We also have various
windows of opportunities, including youths and women empowerment as well as
agricultural and entrepreneurship programmes, among several others.
“Therefore, avail
yourselves with any of them to better your lives,” he said.
According to Akeredolu, the
returnees should not be hostile to any foreigner around them so that African
countries can be a better place for all to live in.
The governor equally
appreciated the management of Air Peace airline for conveying the returnees to
the country, free of charge.
Earlier, Fola
Olasehinde-Vincente, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Diaspora
Affairs, commended Akeredolu for his kind gesture towards the returnees by
ensuring they settled down peacefully and happily.
She enjoined the returnees
to strive to reintegrate themselves into society, urging them to eschew all
forms of crimes in the state.
Responding on behalf of the
returnees, Sholanke Omolara, appreciated the state government for the support
given to them.
She lamented their travails
in South Africa, describing it ‘very terrible and nasty’.
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