A Federal Lawmaker representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, has called for the nationalisation of MTN Nigeria in response to recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
Oshiomhole, speaking while on Arise TV Morning Show, said: “I’m aware that MTN is quoted on the stock exchange, Nigerian shareholders can hold on to their shares, but we should take away South African control.
“We should re-privatise it so Nigerians can take it over, and there would be no repatriation of funds to South Africa. During President Ramaphosa’s campaign, a major shareholder in MTN, he argued that foreigners were taking the jobs of South Africans. Now, South Africa has high unemployment, and some have transferred aggression against other Africans. Life is more important. Nigeria should not look for investors who choose wealth over human life.”
Rufai Oseni, one of the anchor persons on the Arise TV Morning Show, disagreed with Oshiomhole on MTN nationalisation, causing tension on air as both resorted to shouting at each other.
The on-air drama led to a wave of reactions across social media.
@BEazebuy wrote: “Xenophobia against Nigerians in SA is disgusting and must be condemned outright. No excuses. But nationalising MTN? That’s just shooting ourselves in the foot. It scares away every serious investor, kills jobs, and tanks the economy we desperately need. Fight bad behaviour with smart diplomacy and strong institutions, not revenge economics that will hurt ordinary Nigerians more. Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
@legendrizzsound countered: “I love this man… I mentioned this first: the only way we can stop this misbehaviour from South Africans is to revoke their licenses, all their investments in Nigeria, and possibly nationalise their assets in Nigeria; their government will sit up. What nonsense.”
Others, like @manmustlead, dismissed the threat: “You guys think we care if you guys nationalise it, we do not care, and we will not be bullied to be integrated with Nigerian as they have bad manners, they do human trafficking, sell drugs and do scams.”
Support also came from @RealOkonkwo: “I support Senator Oshiomhole’s strong stance on this. Nigeria must push back firmly against the recurring xenophobic attacks on our citizens in South Africa. However, with the kind of weak and ineffective government we currently have, I worry that nationalising MTN could end up hurting Nigerians more than it hurts South Africa.”
Critics like @truthsalovesa questioned Oshiomhole’s priorities: “All lives matter. Which is precisely why we ask Oshiomhole, with genuine urgency, why he is not in the Nigerian Senate every single day demanding accountability for the 1000’s of Nigerians being slaughtered by Boko Haram, armed bandits, Fulani herdsmen, & IPOB on Nigerian soil?”
Others echoed Oshiomhole’s sentiment more directly. @OraclesTweet said: “I support Oshiomhole on this one… Nigerians life matters. The killing of Nigerians has gone on far too long.”
Meanwhile, @AfrikanBanter argued for financial sanctions: “You don’t have to like or trust a person for them to make some valid points. Some financial sanctions should have at least been brought up when these attacks started. You hit people where it hurts – in their pockets. That concept always seems to elude Nigerians.”
The debate also touched on investor confidence. @truthsalovesa warned: “A sitting lawmaker threatening to SEIZE a listed company, with Nigerian shareholders, employees, and tax contributions, as a political weapon. Every investor in London. New York. Singapore. Just took note of what Nigerian property rights mean. Medieval mentality. GO ahead!”
Others like @MilesStone69765 highlighted the economic risks: “Oshiomhole’s view taps into legitimate frustration with xenophobia and economic dependency. But turning that into resource nationalism usually backfires economically while failing to solve the underlying governance failures driving both emigration and weak bargaining power. Nigeria thrives when it attracts more MTN-like investments, not fewer.”
#MTN
# Xenophobicattacks
