President Muhammadu Buhari has said the only way to halt unconstitutional change of government in the West African sub-region is by conducting credible and transparent elections.
He said it is only through smooth elections and transparent transition to the next government that Nigeria can set the right example for other countries in the sub-region.
This, the President said, Nigeria is ready to lead under his watch in the 2023 general elections.
Nigerians will be going to polls in February 2023 to elect a new President.
President Buahri spoke at the 2022 Diaspora Day celebration with the theme: Diaspora Engagement in Global Challenging Times for National Development.
An estimated 20 million Nigerians are in Diaspora with the United States of America (U.S.A) having the largest Nigerian community of about 3.4 million as at 2020, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ estimation.
In his special remark, President Buhari, who was represented by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, reassured the gathering of his administration’s commitment to ensure that the political processes continue to be transparent, credible, free and fair.
He said: “As you are all aware that the processes to our national elections in 2023 have continued to progress smoothly and consistently with the laws of our land and our Constitution.
“I have repeatedly assured of my personal commitment, as well as that of my administration to ensuring that the processes continue to be transparent, to be credible, to be free and fair, leading to smooth elections and transmission, transition to the next government. “This is the only way we can deepen democracy in Nigeria and set the right example for the rest of Africa and, hopefully, stop the recourse to unconstitutional change of government in our sub-region and other parts of the African continent.”
On the Diaspora Day celebration, President Buhari said the theme is apt, “considering our experiences with COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing Russian/Ukrainian war and the insecurity we are experiencing, not only in Nigeria, but across the globe”.
The President reassured the gathering that his administration would continue to hold “our citizens in the Diaspora in the highest esteem”.
He also listed efforts by the Federal Government to promote Diaspora engagement, which include: “The passage of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Establishment Law in 2017.
“The establishment and takeoff of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission in 2019, the approval and adoption of the National Diaspora Policy in 2021, the presentation of the compendium of the ‘Plus 600 Diaspora icons at 60’ which remains a historic record of the work of our compatriots globally.”