Nigerians resident in Europe have expressed their ntension
to support the push for change in 2015. The Coordinator, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Europe, Mr. Tunde Oyeleke, said that the All Progressive Congress (APC) is the answer.
He explained that the APC would provide quality leadership for the country.
Oyeleke said: “Basically, all Nigerians abroad are part of the political development in the country. No matter how long they live abroad, home is still the best place and, whether we like it or not, government’s policy plays prominent role in our activities.”
Speaking to The Nation, Oyeleke noted that, whatever affect people at home have a cumulative effect on Nigerians outside the shores. “If there is peace at home and things are conducive, we would be able to return home and contribute our quota to the development of the country.
“Most of our people are eager to be home, to contribute to its development. So, when there is no conducive atmosphere at home, people will not want to come back home. That is why politics cannot be left alone to people at home. We must be part of the process,” he said.
He added that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has always orgnised Nigerians abroad, using the country’s embassies as the fora.
Oleleke stressed that the progressives, who live in Europe, and are not satisfied with what the government is doing, have decided to organise a forum where their aspirations would be met.
“Though we started with our support for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and have mobilised the people in Europe effectively. The merger of the four political parties prompted our support for the new platform which fold is populated by the progressives. We have decided to go further to ensure that we excel in our political campaigns.”
“We chose the APC because it is a progressive party; this is the only alternative party to what is happening in the country. In ensuring success for the APC, we will continue to use our old methods. When we had the ACN; we used to liaise with the ACN governors, particularly, the state of Osun Governor, Rauf Aregbesola. We have been contributing by campaigning for our people from our base in Europe. We told them what to do; these are taken from the fact that we are exposed and know what happen from the foreign perspectives. We tell them to vote the right people and the right party.”
He maintained that the PDP and ACN have been tested in the Southwest and the people knew which one is better. “And now, with the APC coming into existence, we have been telling them that this party can be replicated at the federal level, all that they achieved at the state level would be the national level.”
He said the APC in Europe has a large support base and could not be ignored. “In Europe, we are talking about 25 countries and I can tell you that there are lots of Nigerians, numbering up to five millions in Europe.”
Oyeleke further said that plans were underway to ensure that those who would be part of the electoral process were not shot out from exercising their franchise.
“Some of our people will come to Nigeria to be part of the campaign, and again some of our people who are registered will fully participate.
“We will come down to Nigeria to be part of all elections that are very vital but the only problem we have now is that we want to organise ourselves through this forum. We equally want to get more people registered and by the time we register them our impact would be much felt.”
“For now, a lot of people are not happy because of the type of government we have in the country, so we want to encourage these people to come down to make their impact in the electoral process. And, if you remember that these people are the ones sending money to their people all the times, they cannot ignore the calls. Once the situation at home is not okay, it will affect their purses as well.
“If the environment is quite okay, they would be relieved of too much burden. In short, we are sort of a pressure group both within and outside, we want the best for our country and that is our mandate. In European countries, you cannot fight individually for your rights unless you come up as a group. This one will fight and defend our interests overseas and ensure that we have good government in the country,” Oyeleke said.
