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  • Diaspora
  • Updated: March 16, 2021

Nigerians In Diaspora Write Buhari, Gbajabiamila, Others Over Blocked Petition

Nigerians In Diaspora Write Buhari, Gbajabiamila, Others Ove

A group of Nigerians across the world, Nigerians In Diaspora Organization (NIDO), has petitioned the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, over the blocking of a petition written by some Nigerians based in the United States of America by the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, last week.

Last week Wednesday, a lawmaker representing Gwer-East /Gwer-West Federal Constituency of Benue State in the House of Representatives, Gbillah, who represents Gwer-East/Gwer-West Federal Constituency in Benue State, moved to lay the petition by MUTA.

But a drama ensued in the process as Wase, who was presiding over the session prevented the laying of the petition, adding that the Green Chamber does not entertain petition outside Nigeria. He asked the Benue Lawmaker if MUTA was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

NIDO in the last petition signed by its leaders across the continents of the world, said Wase’s “unfortunate statement has “helped to cast doubt in the minds of the Diaspora community as to the genuineness of the Federal Government’s intentions towards its Diaspora.”

The petition was dated March 14, 2021 and titled, ‘Letter of protest over the uncharitable and derogatory statement on Nigerians in Diaspora by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase.’

The petition was signed by Dr. Bashir Obasekola for Nigerians in Diaspora, Europe; Obed Monago for Nigerians in Diaspora, Americas: Prof. E. C. Ejiogu for Nigerians in Diaspora, Asia; Gary Linus Unamadu for Nigerians in Diaspora, Oceania; and Dr. Obinna Kingsman for Nigerians in Diaspora, Africa.

Copied in the petition are the President, Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, among others.

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NIDO in the petition to the Speaker of the House, consequently wrote, “Right Honourable Speaker, in order not to escalate this matter to an irreparable level, we are therefore demanding the followings: a full retraction of this unfortunate statement by the Deputy Speaker;

“An unconditional public apology from the Deputy Speaker to the Nigerians in Diaspora Community. That Hon. Mark Gilbah is allowed to present the motion for and on behalf of Mutual Unions of Tiv in America as a concerned group of Nigerians in Diaspora.

“That the Right Honourable Speaker convenes an urgent virtual meeting with the Nigerians in Diaspora community to address this issue and to reassure us of his full support.”

NIDO added, “Right Honourable Speaker, we would like to state that falling short of the above within 14 days upon the receipt of this letter, we might be compelled to take further actions, which might include but not limited to calling out all Nigerians in Diaspora to withhold further home remittances with immediate effect.”

The petition further read in part, “The whole Diaspora community is still in total shock that this particular video could emanate from the Green Chamber where the Rt. Honourable Speaker presides. We all are aware that the Rt. Honourable Speaker himself is a returnee Diaspora and that issues concerning the Diaspora are always close to his heart.”

NIDO noted that the Nigerians in Diaspora had been extremely patient with “the broken promises of both the government and the legislators, where the rights of Nigerians in Diaspora to vote have been treated with levity.”

The group sought for clarity if Wase’s view and position aligned with other members of the National Assembly.

In other news, the Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives has faulted how the media has reported the incident.

The Deputy Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Umar Puma, in a statement issued on Monday, insisted that the action of the Deputy Speaker was to ensure that the petition met the required standard set by the House in its Standing Orders.

The statement read in part, “The House of Representatives belongs to all Nigerians and can be accessed by all Nigerians wherever they may reside. However, like other arms of government – such as courts of law – petitioners must follow laid down rules and procedures in presenting their petitions to the House, otherwise there would be lawlessness, disorder and chaos.”

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