Ngerians in Diaspora woke up with another rude shock as the assault on the Diaspora and our collective national psyche continues unabated. Not long ago the Diasporans were referred to as charlatans. This time, the reckless and derogatory statement towards Nigerians in Diaspora is coming from a no less public office holder than the Deputy Speaker, Hon Ahmed Idris Wase, who basically shut down a request from Hon Mark Terseer Gbillah, representing Gwer East Federal Constituency of Benue State.
Gbillah was presenting a petition from the Mutual Union of Tiv in America (MUTA) over the deplorable plight of Tiv people displaced from their ancestral homes by Fulani herdsmen.
Deputy Speaker had the audacity to put to doubt the double citizenship privileges and rights of Nigerians and Nigerians in Diaspora. Such combative position and derogatory statements to vilify over 22 million Nigerians in Diaspora could have been waved off as act of ignorance from a political novice trying to work his way around the nation’s legislative chamber,but that this insidious utterance is coming from Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, who stood in for the Rt. Honourable Speaker in the Green Chamber makes this disgraceful and national tragedy of sorts hard to ignore.
I make bold to say that as the only Diaspora with a full party mandate at the National Working committee level and as the Deputy National Chairman ,ADC and leader of ADC Diaspora network, with presence in the five continents and the entire countries in the world ,that Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase is not more Nigerian than the over 22 million Nigerians in Diaspora. As a matter of fact, the Diaspora community has been monitoring Wase’s activities and pronouncements in the House of Representatives with great concern, especially when it has to do with the issue of worsening security situation in Nigeria. Sadly, Wase’s antagonism of Hon Mark Terseer Gbillah on all the issues that have to do with Fulani herdsmen is another evidence of the Deputy Speaker putting self-first before the country. Otherwise, how can one query the patriotism of over 22 million Nigerians in Diaspora simply because they raised an issue of concern to them. Still,to add salt to injury, one Umar Muhammad Puma, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker put up the most ridiculous press statement claiming to educate the so called “ignorant” on parliamentary procedures and concluded that the Deputy Speaker’s action snide comments were in order.
For this malicious, scandalous, and irresponsible remarks against Nigerians in Diaspora by the Deputy Speaker who has exhibited total ignorance and basically does not know or appreciate that Nigerians in Diaspora are responsible for more foreign capital inflows,then it is time for the APC- led government should save the country from further embarassment and resign.
It obvious that APC- led Government has failed Nigerians. The much taunted knowledge drain has been converted to knowledge gain for the attention of members of the national assembly who are too obsessed with budget padding and contract chasing than understanding trending global dynamics. Only a blind and clueless law maker and government officials will disparage Nigerians in Diaspora. Even the most ignorant and parochial person cannot pretend to be unaware of the number of Nigerians in governments and key global positions all over the world. While the U.S and U.K and Canada governments, to mention a few are deploying Nigerian Diasporans into valuable positions and people like Dr Okonjo Iweala as DG World Trade Organisation (WTO)and Mrs Amina Mohammed as Deputy director General UN, the remarkable ignorance of the deputy speaker is beyond comparison. The leadership of the national assembly is better served to remove Hon Wase or the entire leadership must be made to reason fast,to enthrone any form of dignity from what is left of our abused democracy.
However ,failure to do so, Nigerans, especially the youths,will be ready to give them quit notice via the ballot box. Our mumu don do!
Hon. Kenneth Gbandi
Deputy National Chairman (Diaspora Engagement) African Democratic Congress (ADC)
Leader of ADC Diaspora Network
Immediate past Continental Chairman
Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Europe (NIDOE)