October 12, 2025
NEWS

Xenophobia: Twitter users berate Fayemi, El-Rufai, Sanusi for attending event in South Africa

Nigerians have been reacting to the presence of Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II in South Africa, in light of the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the country.

The Federal Government had on Wednesday announced its withdrawal from the World Economic Forum holding in Cape Town over the xenophobic attacks.

While announcing that the Nigerian delegation which was meant to have been led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would no longer be attending the WEF, Bashir Ahmad, President Muhammadu Buhari’s New Media aide revealed that former minister and presidential candidate, Oby Ezekwesili would be attending the summit in a private capacity.

He tweeted, “Aunty @obyezeks you’re properly very educated but unfortunately you failed to understand that those who are being attacked in SA, where you’re at the moment, are also private citizens, we all thought you’d sympathize with them and boycott the @wef to properly protest the attacks.”

Meanwhile, the official Twitter handle of the Emir revealed that he delivered a speech at Africa in the World Conference in Stellenberg, South Africa.

Photos showing the governors were also shared on the Twitter handle, which led to reactions on the social media platform.

See reactions:

Olaudah Equiano®@RealOlaudah

While I was calling out on Madam Oby & Jim Ovia, I didn’t even know Emir Sanusi, Governor Kayode Fayemi & ElRufai were also in . Who says the government boycotted the event then? Aren’t we a hypocritical & an unserious people?

141 people are talking about this

Demola Coco Osaka@DemolaOjo

You out Oby and forget to mention Fayemi, Sanusi Lamido and El rufai

Isn’t Lamido a private citizen? Fayemi and El rufai are part of govt and the ruling party. They can’t be sympathetic, ehn?@MBuhari @NGRPresident Presidency unashamedly employing bigotry https://twitter.com/BashirAhmaad/status/1169346240989016064 

Bashir Ahmad

@BashirAhmaad

Aunty @obyezeks you’re properly very educated but unfortunately you failed to understand that those who are being attacked in SA, where you’re at the moment, are also private citizens, we all thought you’d sympathize with them and boycott the @wef to properly protest the attacks. https://twitter.com/obyezeks/status/1169333928353783809 

48 people are talking about this

Emmanuel Nwachukwu@emma_dele

Friends and handlers of Elrufai, Fayemi and Co should do them a favour and just keep quiet!

Granted, they were in SA before Nigeria decided to suspend relations with SA, they should have suspended whatever they were doing and return immediately!

But, no perception management

53 people are talking about this

Adebayo Bankole Akintunde@AdeBanqie

If we are dragging Madam Oby for being at the WEF even after Nigeria pulled out, which is ridicuous in my opinion, then same should happen to SLS, El-Rufai, Fayemi and others. Let us keep the same energy.

71 people are talking about this

Kadaria Ahmed

@KadariaAhmed

They are not at they are @africainworld a private event organised by Nigerian @deleolojede. This event has NOTHING to do with WEF and and started before the attacks. The question is should a Nigerian man who spent his resources organising this be ruined?

Woye@woye1

The pulse of the NATION REJECTED anything South Africa . Do u know the distance between Stellenbosch to Cape Town? Any event in South Africa by any Nigerian should be CANCELLED. Who is paying El Rufai or Fayemi’s bill ? Personal or FAAC . Pls read and pass and no comment

65 people are talking about this

Jake Corleone@Hitee_

So Elrufai , Fayemi and co went for the conference and Bashir made it all about a private citizen that actually condemned the anomaly live at the event ? Nice one

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Uncle Demola@OmoGbajaBiamila

Bashir, at what point do you intend to tell your followers that Governor Nasir Elrufai, Governor Kayode Fayemi, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Amina Jane Mohammed were also in attendance at the WEF? https://twitter.com/BashirAhmaad/status/1169239393275699201 

Bashir Ahmad

@BashirAhmaad

Madam Oby, Nigeria’s former Minister, sir. https://twitter.com/ayourb/status/1169239115528835074 

1,637 people are talking about this

Eze K1ng@misterk1ng

Bashir, where is your criticism of Fayemi, El-Rufai (who are actually part of this government) and SLS? https://twitter.com/bashirahmaad/status/1169346240989016064 

Bashir Ahmad

@BashirAhmaad

Aunty @obyezeks you’re properly very educated but unfortunately you failed to understand that those who are being attacked in SA, where you’re at the moment, are also private citizens, we all thought you’d sympathize with them and boycott the @wef to properly protest the attacks. https://twitter.com/obyezeks/status/1169333928353783809 

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zzanzibaryy@zzanzibaryy

Is Nigeria okay?
How does having the likes of El Rufai and Fayemi in attendance mean boycott
Another huge reason we’ll never be taken seriously in the committee of nations
Appalling!

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Sani®@pdauda

Bash, you pointed that Oby is a private citizen, and should have empathized or sympathized with other private citizens being attacked by boycotting the forum.

Have you also called out El-Rufai, Fayemi and Emir SLS- all public officials, for being in attendance? So Duplicitous!! https://twitter.com/BashirAhmaad/status/1169346240989016064 

Bashir Ahmad

@BashirAhmaad

Aunty @obyezeks you’re properly very educated but unfortunately you failed to understand that those who are being attacked in SA, where you’re at the moment, are also private citizens, we all thought you’d sympathize with them and boycott the @wef to properly protest the attacks. https://twitter.com/obyezeks/status/1169333928353783809 

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Rosanwo@rosanwo

Elected officials @elrufai & @kfayemi were in South Africa for the conference but @BashirAhmaad aide to @MBuhari decided to question the presence of @obyezeks a private citizen in SA.

Waxing distractions to stop you from holding goverment accountable.

🤷🏿‍♂️🇳🇬

Abrahams Isaac A@Sbdsng

Lie!! Fake!!!@elrufai and @kfayemi have been in SA b4 the Xenophobic attacks started, they are not in Cape Town where the is helding.

Stop the lie, you are not the only one on twitter.

I dare you to present a single picture of either Fayemi or El-Rufai.

Here’s @obyezeks

View image on TwitterView image on Twitter
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Inyali Peter@InyaliPeter

After wide criticism by Nigerians, @jimovia_zennith withraws from further participation in WEF holding in Cape Town. Talkative, @obyezeks is still there. If @MBuhari had not taken a decisive stance, Oby would have been the first to attack him. She’s just a hypocrite! @PhilipObin

Like Minds@OchugbaBoy

You are a bigger hypocrite for failing to call out Elrufai, Fayemi and Sanusi 👉

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Gerald@mazigerald

Hypocrisy must be a Nigerian. People have been attacking Madam Oby for attending WEF and have turned a blind eye on El Rufai, Aig Imoukhuede, Jim Ovia, SLS and Fayemi. Not defending her for attending, but if you’re to attack her, face the others squarely.

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Odogwu Akataka@iamkvngdavid_

Breaking News: Nigeria boycotts WEF Summit in ZA

Oby Ezeks: I am here for my people…

Nigerians: Mechie onu gi

SM: El Rufai, Fayemi take group photo in ZA

Nigerians:

Embedded video

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Woye@woye1

Once FG withdrew her presence at World Economic Forum in Cape Town, South Africa, our leaders such as El -Rufai , Fayemi ,Sanusi, Aig Imoukhuede & Jim Ovia should have withdrawn. Stellenbosch ( I miss my city) is just less than 1hr to Cape Town. I am disappointed. Come back home

View image on Twitter

Woye@woye1

We aren’t a good Christian& Moslem if we were hard on Oby& closed our eyes against El -Rufai, Fayemi& Emir SANUSI. Yes they have arrived in SA b4 our decision to withdraw, but they were clever by half to go to nearby beautiful town Stellenbosch & pretend not to be in Cape Town

53 people are talking about this

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