By Nicholas Kalu, Abuja

The Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) has said they are poised to rescue Nigeria from poor leadership that has made life difficult for the people.

Deputy National Chairman (Diaspora Engagement) of the ADC, Hon. Kenneth Gbandi, addressing a global press conference on the state of the nation on Monday said majority of Nigerians in Diaspora today are of the opinion that the present leadership of the country has failed woefully.

Gbandi, who is also the Leader of the ADC Diaspora Network (ADC-DN), said the coalition of many Diaspora Organizations and prominent Nigerians came together to rescue Nigeria from the myriads of problems facing the country.

“Enough is enough and it is time to rescue Nigeria from political corruption, criminal insurgency, kidnapping, terrorism, poverty, unemployment, and dearth of infrastructure which have become permanent features of our polity as of today,” he said.

He said the Nigerian youths, who can no longer fold their hands as their future is being compromised, fired one of the many final salvos with the ENDSARS movement last year.

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“We will be betraying the youths and the Nigerian dream if we fail to heed to this clarion call now and join hands with them to salvage the sinking ship of our great Nation. The entire fabric of the Nigerian nation is in great turmoil and collapsing before our very own eyes. The hashtag poverty capital of the world is demeaning to all hard-working Nigerians, especially Nigerians in Diaspora.

“Irrespective of our personal comfort, professional accomplishment, and development we are enjoying all over the globe today, we are still associated with these negative hashtags, failed leadership and mismanagement. Restoration of the glory of Nigeria is a patriotic and sacred duty that we must all pledge today, to undertake.

“The journey will be hard and stormy, but Nigerians are known to excel when the going gets tough. ‘Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfil it or betray it.’ According to Franz Fanon, we will not betray this call of the century. Not again!

“This administration has failed Nigerians on many fronts: too many unkept promises; naira is not one dollar as promised; and electricity, we were told will be fixed in two years by any serious Government; the issue of security we were promised will be history; kidnapping has become a regular business in Nigeria today; increase in price of fuel; freedom of expression has been under assault while corruption is almost near legalization today; and youth unemployment is at catastrophic level with the second highest unemployment rate anywhere in the world today.

“We have indeed become the poverty capital of the world in all ramification, while our legislators are enjoying jumbo salaries and opposition have been intimated into total submission or threatened with state apparatus, unless decamped to clueless party. Our glorious standing in the days of Balewas, the Ziks and Awos has turned into a nightmare and the once Green Passport, the pride of Africa is hunted like the most wanted fugitive world over today.

“Today, it is difficult to distinguish between the opposition party and the ruling party as majority of the executive and members of national assembly are too consumed with budget padding and contract chasing, than legislative duties and oversights for the development of our country; rather than falling in line with positive trending global dynamics.

“When it was becoming unbearable like the brutality by the Nigerian police, the Nigerian youths stood up to voice out their frustration to SARS and other law enforcement abuses. But the politicians elected toprotect us turned the state security machinery to suppress the peaceful demonstration which culminated in the killings of the innocent youths across the country.

“The Youths are not alone in the national assault and disgrace. The Diaspora were recently informed by the Deputy Speaker, that the Diaspora have no right to mess in the issues of Nigeria that is affecting them. The Diaspora have been told that they have no business with voting in Nigerian election. The Diaspora have been informed they have no business requesting the constitution of Nigerian Diaspora commission (NIDCOM).

“We are however reminded daily, of the need to bring huge investment into the country and encourage us to double our huge remittances that kept Nigeria from bankruptcy. Even the most ignorant and parochial person cannot pretend to be unaware of the huge remittances from the Diaspora: the ever-increasing passport and consular fees across the Globe bore mainly by the Nigerians in Diaspora to generate huge revenue for the Government.

“Even the most ignorant and parochial person cannot pretend not to know the number of young and prominent Nigerians in global positions and in governments all over the world. While the Biden government of USA, the governments of UK and Canada to mention a few, are bringing Nigeria Diasporas and youths into valuable positions: people like Dr. Okonjo Iweala as DG World Trade Centre; Mrs Amina Mohammed, as Deputy Director General UN; Dr Akinwumi Adesina, ADB President; the remarkable ignorance of the deputy speaker to belittle the importance of the Diaspora is beyond compare.

“Nigerian Diaspora and the youths have now vowed to halt further decline of the nation and reposition Nigerian Youths and the Diaspora to play same role in Nigeria. To this end, sizeable Nigerians in Diaspora and youths across the nation have now adopted the ADC party to change the trajectory of development of a great country Nigeria.

“The warning signs that it is time to take charge are too clear and loud to ignore: the End SARS Movement, the historical integration of the Diaspora into the decision-making organ of a political party (ADC), and the affirmation of ADC by Nigerian’s citizens Home and Diaspora, by the over 25,732,300 total accredited voters as the future Youths and Diaspora Party, further to rescue Nigeria from going under.

“As the first political party to fully appreciate the deep knowledge, experience and values that Nigerians in Diaspora could bring to its politics and nation building mission, the African Democratic Congress-Diaspora Network (ADC-DN), with presence in 5 (five) Continent of the world namely ADC-DN Africa, ADC-DN Americas, ADC-DN Asia & Middle East, ADC-DN Europe and ADC-DN Oceania & Pacific Region, are willing, ready and capable to fully mobilize in order to rescue our country, and save the ship of Nigeria from totally going abase under this current leadership,” he said.

He added that the ADC Diaspora Network have put programmes in place to achieve this objective.

“There are over 12,000 elective positions to be filled come 2023 (President & VP, 36 State Governors & Deputies), 109 Senators, 360 House of Reps members and over 800 State Legislators. Apart from that, there are nearly 800 Local Council Chairpersons, and nearly 10,000 Ward Councillors.

“The opportunities for the Youths and the Diaspora to take their future into their hands, vie for elective positions and help rescue the Nation must be seen as a patriotic duty. The year of the “Great Diaspora & Youth Returns to Politics” is finally here.

“This country belongs to all of us, let nobody tell you anything different. ADC-DN therefore use this opportunity to invite all Diaspora (Nigerians) and Youths who are troubled with the situation in Nigeria, to go beyond venting their frustrations on social media and join project Diaspora/Youths “Rescue Nigeria Mission” and be part of the ADC. To our dear grandparents in politics, it is time to retire, as we embark on the transformation journey to save our country and our people from bad governance,” he said.

National Youth Leader of the ADC, Barr Maurice Ebam, said the youths were committed to doing their part to achieving this aim.

Head, Strategy, Policy and Projects – Cater &Merger UK, Mr Peter Odu, on why more youths are needed in politics and governance, said, “Africa is the youngest continent. The average age in sub-Saharan Africa is 18, and roughly 60% of the population is under 25. Africa’s youth are disproportionately affected by contemporary challenges like unemployment, and we cannot afford to exclude them from decision-making processes on issues that affect them.

“Secondly, youth perspectives are critical inputs for effective and relevant policy solutions. Young people have a unique understanding of their problems and their proximity to the shortcomings of existing policy responses gives them insights into potential improvements. Young people are not just the future of Nigeria. They are Nigeria today. And I am simply here to give expression to the voice of a generation that will not be silenced. ”