DIASPORA VOTING 2015! IT IS TIME FOR PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN TO MAKE GOOD HIS PROMISE It was in August 2010 in far away Gabon when Mr President, promised Nigerians in diaspora that they will be able to vote in the 2015 general elections. He gave these assurances, while addressing members of the Nigerian Community in Gabon, at the residence of the Nigerian ambassador in Libreville during Gabon’s 50th independence anniversary celebration. Responding to various questions and comments from Nigerians at the occasion, President Jonathan noted that while it may not be feasible for Nigerians in the diaspora to vote at the forthcoming 2011 polls, trends in modern technology like the electronic voting system have simplified the voting process and assured that Government will ensure they exercise their franchise in subsequent elections. As a United Kingdom registered NGO with major interest in the advocacy for better living standards for the people of Niger Delta as well as Nigerians in General, we are calling on Mr President to fulfil his promise on diaspora voting to enable Nigerians in diaspora allowed the opportunity to cast their votes in determining their leaders in the fourth coming General Elections in 2015. This should be an agenda as part of the on-going National Conference and also as part of the present constitutional amendment. Some African countries with less resources and technologies are already creating the enabling environment for their diaspora to vote. In most developed countries where Nigerians are residing, already had infrastructure in place that could facilitate such exercise. Our leaders in government must be reminded that we have been making steady contributions to the country ever since we left its shores behind. Nigerians in the Diaspora are remitting billions of dollars yearly to the country and willing to share our skills and expertise for the development of the country, yet we are being excluded from the scheme of things. The monies, Nigerians in diaspora remits back to the Nigeria government is enough to build 21,000 megawatts of electricity. It is enough to equip every Nigerian school and University with state of the art technology to give our people the best educational system in the world. This money is enough to reconstruct every mile of road in Nigeria to remove the death traps that our roads have been famous for. Besides all the above, we are Nigerians, and it is our right. The world is now a global village, and regardless of where we live on the face of this earth, we wake up every day consumed about the problems and affairs of Nigeria. These are problems we have no control over, or have the ability to solve unless we can influence policy. The first step to influencing policy is to elect good leaders. Most Nigerians and their leaders want to see Nigeria progress. Putting our hands together to achieve this goal is critical. Therefore, the time has come to take our place in the future growth of our country. Nigeria is now 100 years old. We want to build a Nigeria that is different to the one that has existed in the last 100 years. We want a Nigeria that provides equality to all on the basis of your ability not on the basis of tribalism, religion and ethnicity. We want a Nigeria where our children can turn the light on to do their homework and not relying on candlelight. We want a Nigeria where the corrupt people are punished expeditiously without dragging the case for several years hoping we all forget. The opportunity to move Nigeria forward belongs to all Nigerians, but denying some Nigerians the opportunity to vote does not help our progress because the Nigerians in the Diaspora are eager to contribute to help develop the country and create jobs. Therefore, it is in the best interest of every Nigerian to come out and support this initiative In a democracy, only one solution leads to good governance. It’s the ability to participate in choosing and electing good leaders. When these leaders turn bad, we must have mechanisms to remove them. If we don’t have a vote, we don’t have a say, in terms of changing or influencing any policy. It is unfortunate that in spite of the yearly remittances made by Nigerians in the Diaspora to the country, they are being disenfranchised. This collective disenfranchisement of a group of innocent citizens by our government on the basis of their abode amounts to discrimination and breach of our fundamental human rights. In order for true democracy to prosper, every Nigerian of qualifying age, mind and character, whether at home or abroad, must be able to vote and exercise his or her civic right. We as a group will continue to advocate for credible elections as well as credible candidates that will ensure that the dividends of democracy is evenly distributed among the deserving electorates. LONG LIVE NIGERIA! LONG LIVE NIGER DELTA! LONG LIVE DELTA STATE! SIGNED Niger Delta Advocacy
Posted on: Tue, 06 May 2014 00:09:24 +0000
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