An Instagram user identifying as Miracle Okpalaugo (@miraculousonsy) is calling on Nigerians to boycott South African owned businesses rather than resorting to violence.
Miracle Okpalaugo made the call as a comment to Toke Makinwa’s latest reaction to xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
According to Miracle, when you destroy South African businesses locations like Shoprite and MTN masts and business premises, you are hurting Nigerians because according to her, “most of the goods in Shoprite belong to Nigerians. Shoprite doesn’t buy and Stock groceries in their Stores. They only take a percentage out of every sale they make.”
She says the people who suffer from violence in these cases are Nigerians because Shoprite is insured “under Nigerian Insurance Companies who are going to Pay Shoprite huge for Damages,” she says.
In the same vein, she says attacking MTN is also tantamount to attacking Nigerians because: “100% of MTN centres around the country are owned by Nigerians,” she claims. “MTN only provides the Technical Services to them. Even the majority of the Masts are owned by individuals, MTN only own the Satellites mounted on them. So when you Attack and loot them, you are only Attacking your fellow Nigerians.
Miracle notes that effective retaliation against the attacks against Nigerians can be achieved either through diplomacy by government or by boycotting South African brands.
“And if you can’t boycott Shoprite, MTN, MultiChoice…, then you are Not Angry. You are just hungry and looking for Attention,” she concludes.
Read the comment in full (lightly edited for clarity):
“People have transferred the anger to their fellow Nigerians here in Nigeria. Burning Shoprite and MTN offices.
“Most of the goods in Shoprite belong to Nigerians. Shoprite doesn’t buy and Stock groceries in their Stores. They only take a percentage out of every sale they make. The only thing owned by Shoprite is the Brand and the Building. It takes only an enlightened Youth to Know this.
Did looting Shoprite and Burning the Groceries there has any serious impact on Shoprite? No, it doesn’t. Because:
- All Items there are insured under Nigerian Insurance Companies who are going to Pay Shoprite huge for Damages.
- When the Nigerian vendors signed contracts with Shoprite to sell their items in the store, there is an indemnity clause that protects Shoprite from issues resulting from Natural disaster, Riots etc and so, only the Owner of commodity and the Insurance company are affected.
100% of MTN centres around the country are owned by Nigerians. MTN only provides the Technical Services to them. Even the majority of the Masts are owned by individuals, MTN only own the Satellites mounted on them. So when you Attack and loot them, you are only Attacking your fellow Nigerians.
Now, the only way you can get to them is through diplomacy. Only your Government can do that. Or Boycotting the Brand that is all you can do. And if you can’t boycott Shoprite, MTN, Multichoice etc for other Brands, then you are Not Angry, you are just Hungry and looking for Attention.
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