Nigerians In Diaspora Seek Voting Rights, Endorse President Jonathan For 2015

                                                   Dr. Stella Alhassan

Nigerians living abroad have expressed concern over their inability to vote during elections and called on the Federal Government to put necessary legislation in place to address the situation.

The National Coordinator of Goodluck Support Group (GSG) in the United States, Dr. Stella Alhassan, who made the call in Abuja, said many Nigerians abroad are making great impacts in every sectors of the world’s economy and are ready to replicate such efforts back here in Nigeria.

Dr. Stella Alhassan said Nigerians in the Diaspora will continue to work towards restoring Nigeria’s alliance abroad, as well as our Nigerian values at home, while supporting President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

 Dr. Stella who is also the National Coordinator of Women for Change and Development Initiative in the Diaspora, called on the government to create enabling environment for them to operate.

She said the Goodluck Support Group hosted an induction of more than seven regional branches in Houston in December 2013.

According to her, the inauguration was necessary to empower those branches with necessary structures to corroborate the group’s mission and aspirations of advancing President Jonathan’s transformation agenda.

‘’I believe in the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. So, that is why we in the Diaspora will support President Goodluck Jonathan on his transformation agenda for 2015’’. We are delighted with the Jonathan’s administration in the transformational gains in mass housing initiative, empowering local auto manufacturing, job creation for the youths and the agricultural initiative among others.

‘‘So, we are concerned and worried that we cannot exercise our voting rights as Nigerians living abroad. It is still our right as Nigerians to be able to make our voice to be heard; our voice can be heard through our voting rights, because it’s our civic rights.

And because we are in foreign land does not mean that we are denied our rights. Like some other countries I learnt their citizens go to their Embassies. They are allowed to vote which make them feel that they are recognized in their country. They are millions of Nigerians in the Diaspora who wants to participate, but this civic right is not given to them.  

‘’So, it doesn’t make sense that after you worked so hard and you cannot vote. People travel down to Nigeria to vote, but it’s not everybody that can come home. Last two years, I was here more than fifteen times. That’s a lot of money and I came with over 200 people. We registered, went back to the United States and then we came back again to vote.  If we did not love our nation we wouldn’t do that; to come home and cast our vote. It is the love we have for our country. So if government can put mechanism in place to ensure that we vote wherever we reside, that will be great.

‘’So, my appeal to the federal government is that they should put necessary legislation in place to ensure that every Nigerian can vote wherever they live. If it means setting up something in the Embassies to enable us to cast our votes and exercise our civic rights to our beautiful nation. This I know that a lot of Diasporas would really like that to happen. If the government can do that for us, then, that will be very great.

‘’To sensitize the heart of our people about the transformation agenda of Mr. President and to urge him to come out to run in 2015. That is our goal and we in the Diaspora we are doing all we know to do; going from one state to the other. And the people in the Diaspora are getting it. And we are working real hard to see that people appreciate the good work President Goodluck Jonathan is doing back home.

‘’I believe in the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and I see the great job Alhaji Ahmed Gulak is doing here to sensitise the people about the transformational leadership of Mr. President and to stand with the president. I emulate such loyalty. When he came to Houston I heard his speech and I saw where his heart is. It is time for us to move forward, despite our differences. We should think about Nigerian; we should think about this nation, the masses and the less privileged. We should think about the man in the street.

‘’ Nigeria is a blessed nation; so blessed, everything is overflowing, but the people are living in abject poverty. Basic amenities they cannot have because there are greedy and selfish leaders. All they think about is their selfish gains and forget the people.  So, that is why we in the Diaspora will support President Goodluck Jonathan on his transformation agenda for 2015’’.