2011: Diaspora Nigerians must vote, says Ndu, ARP national chairman

* President Goodluck Jonathan
Ahead of 2011 election, the African Renaissance Party (ARP) has said the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, must ensure that Nigerians living abroad register and vote in the elections, even as the party insisted that lack of funds is not enough reason to deny citizen in diaspora their fundamental rights.

The National Chairman the party and its former presidential candidate, Alhaji Yahaya Ezeemoo Ndu while declaring the position of his party on the matter in a statement earlier today maintained that the country cannot afford to ignore the issue of the voting rights of over 20 million Nigerians who reside and work abroad.

According to him, the population of the Nigerian Diaspora is about the entire population of a country like Ghana and therefore called on all well meaning patriots of Nigeria and international human rights groups to join the party in insisting that the Nigerian Diaspora must be registered by INEC and allowed to vote from their nations of domicile for the 2011 elections.

He stated: “As Nigeria gets ready for the 2011 general elections one question that has continually plagued the masses of Nigerian patriots and all who wish the nation well is the issue of the voting rights of over 20 million Nigerians who reside and work in the Diaspora.

“Throughout the history of Nigerian electoral processes the Nigerian Diaspora has constantly been denied voting rights, even though most other nations on earth with half Nigeria's population in the Diaspora have long ensured that their Diaspora are allowed to vote in their elections.”

Ndu added that: “There is absolutely no reason under the sun why the Nigerian Diaspora should not vote or be voted for in the forthcoming 2011 elections and any attempt to further disenfranchise them will be resisted and its consequences not be pleasant.

“The shame of it all is that the successive governments of Nigeria are always calling on the Nigerian Diaspora to invest in the economy of the nation .It appears that Nigeria needs their money but not their voice.”

For him, “Nigeria cannot claim lack of funds as hindrance to ensuring that the fundamental rights of Diaspora Nigerians are taken care of, not with the astronomical pays that the National Assembly members allot to themselves.

“In many aspects of human expertise, the Nigerian Diaspora is respected all over the world as being of the most intelligent and ingenious and hardworking. Certainly, Nigeria needs their brains as well as the brawn to develop.”

He noted that “almost 150 years ago after the US state of Wisconsin passed the first law enabling external or 'out -of-country' voting, enfranchising its soldiers fighting in the American Civil War, many democracies offer the option of external voting to their nationals living abroad.

“There is even a court judgment in the Hon. Oluwafolajimi Akeem Bello Vs. INEC [ suit No.FHC/ABJ/CS/370/2007] rendered by Justice Adamu Bello in which the Justice held inter alia 'I believe strongly that the plaintiffs have made a good case and the time is ripe for Nigeria to give its citizens abroad the opportunity to register and vote from abroad in any election in Nigeria without having to travel to Nigeria for that purpose'”

The party further noted that “in a world order characterized by increasing migration, external voting has become highly significant. How can people living outside their country of origin have their political rights assured?

"Though historically, external voting can be said to be quite a recent phenomenon even in long established democracies, But the exigencies and peculiarities of the Nigerian situation make it imperative that all citizens who are 18 and above and have the interest should to registered, should vote, and where necessary be voted for.

“Nigeria is in a political and economic state of emergency and all hands have to be on deck to save the ship of state. Besides, many of Nigerians in the Diaspora are residing and working in countries where there long lasting democracies and therefore have a lot to impute by way of experience in the Nigerian system.

“We call on all well meaning patriots of Nigeria to join us in insisting that the Nigerian Diaspora must be registered to, and allowed to vote from their nations of domicile for the 2011 elections.
We specifically also call on all registered political parties in Nigeria; on the Nigerian Bar Association; the Nigeria Medical Association; All non governmental organizations in Nigeria; all town union, on all whose relatives reside outside Nigeria, on all Religious and Traditional leaders; to join hands to demand for the democratic right of the Nigerian Diaspora”, the party noted.

The party further noted that the Diaspora "in the following countries vote in Legislative elections: Angola,Australia,Azerbaijan,Bangladesh,Belgium,Botswana,Czeck Republic, Fiji, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guines-Bissau,Guyana,India,Iraq, Japan, Jersey, Laos, Lesotho,Luxemburg,Marshall Islands,Nauru,Netherlands,Oman,Pitcairn Islands,South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe e.t.c.

"The Diaspora in the following countries vote in their Presidential elections:- Afghanistan, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Tunisia, Venezuela,[for presidential recall only]

The Statement further read: "In the following countries, their Diaspora vote in both Legislative elections and in Presidential elections: Argentina, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Croatia,Djibouti,Equatorial Guinea, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Israel, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua,Philippines,Romania, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Singapore and Syria.

"The population of Nigerians in the Diaspora is more than the population of many countries. The Nigerian Diaspora is conservatively put at over 20 million. The population of Angola is about 15,940,000; Benin- 8,439,000;Botswana- 1,843,833;Burkina Faso 13,228,000; Burundi -7,548,000; Cameroun-17,795,000; Canary Islands-1,995,833; Cape Verde- 420,979; Central African Republic-4,216,666;had-10,146,000; Comoros- 798,000;Coted'Ivoire- 17,654,843;Djibouti-496,374;Equatorial Guinea-504,000;Eritrea-4,401,000; Gabon 1,384,000; Gambia-1,517,000; Guinea-9,402,000; Guinea Bissau-1,586,000;Lesotho-1,795,000; Liberia-3,283,000;libya-6,036,914;Madagascar-18,606,000;malawi-12,884,000;Mali-13,518,000;Mauritania-3,069,000; Mauritius-1,219,220; Namibia- 2,031,000;Niger-13,957,000;Republic of Congo-4,072,809; Rwanda-7,600,000; Senegal- 11,658,000;Sierra Leone-6,144,562;Togo-10,102,000;Zambia -14,668,000; Zimbabawe-13,010,000.

"I also call on affiliate organizations of the Nigerian Labor Congress such as: the
Agric and Allied employers Union of Nigeria [AAEUn]; Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees; Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria; Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria; National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives; National Union of Air transport Employees; National Union of Bankers, Insurance and Financial Institution Employees; National Union of Chemical , Footwear, Rubber, leather and Non-Metallic Employees; National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood workers; National Union of Electricity Employees; National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees; National Union of Hotels and Personal Services Workers; National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas [NUPENG]; National Union of Posts and Telecommunication Employees [NUPTE]; National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers; National Union of Shop and Distributive Employees; National Union
of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria; Nigeria Civil Service Union; Nigeria Union of Civil Service Secretariat Stenographic Workers; Nigerian Union of Journalists; Nigerian Union of Mine Workers [NUMW]; Nigeria Union of Pensioners; Nigeria Union of Railway men; Non-academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions; Radio, Television and Theatre Workers; Steel and Engineering Workers Union of Nigeria[SEWUN]; National Union of Road Transport Workers; Nigeria Union of Teachers; Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics; Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria; Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions[ASSBIFI]; Nigeria Welders Association; Nigeria National Filters Association; Metal Products Senior Staff Association of Nigeria; Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities; Academic Staff Union of Universities.

"At this point in the history when all and sundry are demanding the compilation of a new voters register and when information technology has made it possible to bank online, for students to pay for examinations on line, for different agencies of government to conduct epayments and the like, there should be no reasons at all why the Nigerian Diaspora cannot register and vote online.

"For practical purposes, Nigerians in the Diaspora under the aegis of ANAC have structured a master plan to create Diasporas Voters Register in collaboration with INEC to be domiciled in the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC and London with terabytes of bandwidth for millions of concurrent access by Nigerians.

"This is similar to Facebook Data architecture which will allow Nigerians in the Diaspora to self register with pictures and thumbprint. The raw data gathered will be cross referenced with Immigration to filter out those qualified as Nigerians older than 18 years. The biometric data mining will ensure that even those with multiple passports will be denied multiple voting.

"The data repository is planned to be handed over to INEC for online voting using biometric for any Nigerian outside of Nigeria from Ghana, to China, USA, Europe, Malaysia or anywhere else. This will be the cleanest database of Nigerians ever to be placed under INEC in our embassies in DC as well as London .

"Finally, according to Uche Nworah ''The Migrations and Development Report from the International Development Select Committee {UK} estimates that over $300 Billion was sent from developed countries to developing countries in 2003 by diasporas living in the developed countries. Global remittances, the report maintains is growing faster than official development assistance from the developed countries.

"It is the second largest source so external funding for developing countries behind Foreign Direct Investment[FDI],and also accounts for as much as 27% of the GDP of some African countries. The report also says that global remittance accounts for 5% of GDP in Nigeria with a predicted increase in coming years. A US government official recently claimed that Nigerian Diasporas remit $12 Billion annually.

"Now, how fair , how logical is it to deny Nigerian diasporas of the fundamental human rights to vote and be voted for after making so much sacrifices to the development of their own fatherland?", the statement read.

Jega is new INEC boss

Professor Attahiru Jega has been officially named as new Chairman of the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

His appointment was approved at today's meeting of the Council of State, a body largely composed of former Heads of State.

It was gathered that Jega's name and of all those nominated to fill vacant commissioner slots in the Commission will be sent to the National Assembly for ratification.

Jega (OFR) is Professor of Political Science at the Bayero University, Kano (BUK).He became the Vice Chancellor of the university in 2005. His tenure as Vice Chancellor is supposed to end in October this year.

As BUK’s helmsman, Jega, now on the other side of the divide, found himself in contention with his colleagues over similar issues over which he and other ASUU executives had confronted the Federal Government, about 18 years earlier.

But with the experience he had gathered as a former union leader, Jega skillfully doused the tension and peace reigned at the university. Jega has also been linked with fundamental changes that have occurred so far at BUK, although, critics still accused of him of being slow in taking decisions on some major issues.

Professor Attahiru Jega is an ideologically focused intellectual. He leans towards the left ideologically. To the liberal, he is a radical. He is one of the few "unrepentant optimist" that fought and believed that Nigeria will one day be freed from the shackles of the military; and that democracy will not only prevail but will become a way of life

US Commends FEHN over peace efforts in N-Delta

L-R: Barr. Allen, Captain Alphin, Sanders
at farewell dinner in honour of Schrader
in lagos Saturday night.

The United States Government has commended the efforts of the Foundation For Ethnic Harmony (FEHN) in ensuring enduring peace in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta region.

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Robin Renee Sanders stated this weekend in Lagos, urging Nigerians to think of themselves first as a nation and not as a region or an ethnic group.

FEHN, which has been training of repentant militants on nonviolence, was commended for their dedication and commitment to peace in the Niger Delta region.

Also, former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Matters, Mr. Timi Alaibe while recalling how he was accused at a security council meeting of training insurgents in the Niger Delta because of his effort towards ensuring peace in the region while on the saddle as the NDDC boss, insisting that the crisis in the region is not a security issue.

Both spoke at a farewell dinner held by FEHN in honour of departing Political/Economic Section Chief of the US Consulate, Lagos, Dr. Helena Schrader at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island.

In attendance were the Consulate General of the US Consulate, Ms. Donna Blair and other officials of the consulate as well as ex-militants Fara Dagogo and Eikabowei Victor Ben also known as General Boyloaf.

According to FEHN national chairman, Barrister Allen Onyema, over 10, 000 ex-militants leaders are to be trained while hundred of them are already in their Akodo, Lagos, training camp.

Those eager to undergo nonviolence training include Fara Dagogo and Victor Ben.

The US ambassador said: "I just want to say a few words about FEHN and recognise the people that are here. I want to say something to you people personally on behalf of the US government. I think that your commitment to amnesty and peace in the Niger Delta should be commended and I recognise you.

"Certainly, organisations like FEHN are so very important in an environment like this. And not only because of they promote ethnic harmony like their name says, really they are on ground and working day to day, committed, dedicated and visionary.

"I want to commend FEHN because it’s putting in place the positive elements that are part of nonviolence, thinking of about the future today, and nonviolence is part of becoming a nation.

"I think of myself first as an American and most Americans do. You have to think of yourself as a nation first, not as a region, not as ethnic group but asa nation first. And that is the only way to come together and move in the right direction.


"So, I really want to commend the leadership of FEHN for what it is doing, for its dedication, for the leaders that are here today", Sanders said.

On his part, Alaibe said:"I was summoned to the highest security council of Nigeria and I was told I was training insurgents, militants as we call them for the purpose of what I don’t know.

"And you can imagine being summoned to Abuja at a security meeting and you’re sitting right before Mr. President and they put there on the spot and accuse you of promoting violence in the Niger Delta by taking out boys as I was told that by the very fact of taking out them out of the camp to Lagos, you have caused the multiplication of camps.

"And people are setting up camps because of the concept of wanting to go to Lagos and South Africa for nonviolence training."

The former NDDC boss insisted that, "The security system is always making the mistake and continues to make the mistake that the Niger Delta problem is a security problem. And it is not".