While the violence in South Africa rages, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba has, on Tuesday, asked President Jonathan to recall - and immediately - the Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Mr. Martin Cobham.

Olisa has accused Cobham and indeed the Nigerian authorities of a weak response to the xenophobic incidents.

He said: “There can be no excuse for this outrageous behaviour especially in the context of good neighbourly relations between South Africa and Nigeria. Nigeria stood by their South African brothers and sisters at their greatest hour of need during the apartheid years. This is no way to repay us.

“It is shocking that President Zuma of South Africa has not made a clear statement. I feel the response of the Nigerian Government has been very weak. The Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa should be recalled. Our Foreign Minister should summon the South African Commissioner in Nigeria to convey our disappointment at the behaviour of some South Africans.

“The South African Government must know that xenophobic behaviour of its people is not acceptable to Nigerians and it will have the gravest consequences for Nigerian-South African relations, unless they stop their inexcusable behaviour."