The All Progressives Congress (APC) Scandinavia chairman, Ayoola Lawal on Friday commended Nigerian youths home and abroad for the political awakenings and desire to take on leadership across different tiers of Government.
Speaking with newsmen from the Houses of Parliaments, Westminister, London United Kingdom during the bi-partisan discussion titled: Nigeria’s 2019 Election: The importance of youth and diaspora participation, the APC Scandinavia chairman observed that it is candidly clear and impressive that the Nigerian youths in diaspora are serious and agitated to be part of Nigerian electoral process. He, however, said that they need to be committed to politics and not just to be showing interest in the election and elective positions.
The APC Diaspora chief advised the attendees during the session to jettison the sense of entitlement but “get involved, be committed, be organised and go for it because power is never served on a platter of gold, they have to fight and claim it. We can not stick to the honey-pots in the diaspora and want power back home in order to effect the desired changes to make Nigeria great again, we must be willing to give it all, period!
“It was a charged environment with relevant questions and discussion relating to the way forward for Nigerian youths and diaspora participation in 2019 election and Nigeria politics in general.”
The attendance and the questions from the youths in attendance convincingly tell that Nigeria youth in Diaspora are desperate for the change in Nigeria and they want their want to be that of the needed change they are agitating for in our country, Nigeria. They want their voices to be heard.
“If I may recall a speech credited to Prof Jega about diaspora voting, in December 2013, Jega called for an amendment of sections 77(2) and 117(2) of the 1999 Constitution to allow Nigerians in the diaspora of voting age to participate in the 2015 elections but till date will are still waiting for his recommendation to come to past. I am very happy that the majority leader of the Nigeria House Representative, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila whose assembly jettisoned the diaspora voting bill on the technical ground was one of the speakers.
While speaking, Hon. Gbajabiamila categorically advised Nigerians in the diaspora to seek legal approach in actualising their right to vote anywhere they might be residing on the globe and his willingness and readiness to be part of the struggle.
Lawal further said: “I commend the bright and brilliant contributions of the attendees such as Mr Bolaji Lewis of Good Governance and Mr Olumide Akinode of Nordic-African Association.
“In spite of several calls by much Nigerian living in the Diaspora and friends of diaspora Nigerians in legislative arm of the call for Diaspora right to votes for several years, sadly these efforts are yet to see the light of the day but I hope and pray that if we in the diaspora could act fast and put into active mode the advice of Hon. Gbajabiamila, the judiciary expedient action, then over 20 million Nigerians living abroad will not be disenfranchised come 2019.
“Diaspora voting is currently practised in 115 countries in the world and 28 African countries have made legal and logistical provisions in their electoral processes to ensure their diaspora citizens voice during their country elections.
“Diaspora voting or voting by proxy is not an alien concept in most advanced, and even some developing democracies of the world. This is a response to the advancing global democratisation agenda, social, political, massive economic, and cultural globalisation. And this inclusion in the political and electoral process is perhaps even more important for Nigerians in the diaspora than any other developing countries in the world. Remittances by Nigerians diaspora contributes massively to the GDP of the country, a total of $22 billion 2017 alone and yet disenfranchised, indeed, this is not a fair part of our constitution because that relating to Nigerian citizens living in abroad does not depict equality.
“I think all it takes to mend this part of the constitution is the political will and fairness to do the right thing for all the citizens irrespective of where they are residing.
I’m happy that we are now experiencing political awakening on the part of the youths both at home and in the Diaspora.
“I`m very proud to salute the courage, enthusiasm, and determination of the Nigerian youths to take their destiny into their own hands. No longer time to seat on the side of the field complaining about the sense of self-entitlement but the time to get into the active mode of real participation.”
Consequently, he implored all Nigerians in Diaspora to be part of a political party of their ideology in their country of residence and as well join any Nigeria accredited diaspora political party and be active members in order to learn the rope and make easier their political penetration by home more easier.
Those who chaired the sessions include Mr Dayo Isreal, and other are Ms Michelle Akintoye BME, George Sekibo, British MP, Jim Shannon and MP, Jeremy Lefroy.