Nigerians in the Diaspora disfranchised
The author is no longer surprised about what
happens in Nigeria or what comes out
of Nigeria .
Therefore, it didn’t come as a surprise, when the House of Representatives
stood down a bill, seeking to amend the 2010 electoral act that would have made
it possible for Nigerians in Diaspora to vote.
Deputy Leader of the House, Leo Ogor raised concerns that Nigeria was not
ripe for such an exercise, even when President Goodluck Jonathan promised that
by 2015, those in Diaspora will vote. Over 20 African countries have already
started Diaspora votes for their citizens, yet Nigeria is not ripe, according to
the House of Representative deputy leader.
This is pure man’s inhumanity to
mankind. Disenfranchising fellow citizens.
Without doubts, greater part of our problems is from our
“elites”. The author also remembered when the current Senate President (David
Mark) was a communication minister, he said, “that telephone is not for the
poor”.
All previous governments have in one way or other pushed
the people further into poverty. At present, our President appears to have made
up his mind to remove the oil subsidy. All these are direct assault on the
Nigerian masses both home and in the Diaspora.
The only reason, why “any ruler” wakes up one morning to
say or implement any harsh policy is because Nigerians are prepared to
tolerate. There seems to be no limit to our tolerance level. The ability to
accept/tolerate every thing the government does is also our biggest hindrance
to progress and development as a nation.
The time is now to start saying no and question any wrong
policy. Whenever the government tries to impose a wrong policy, citizens should
have no choice but to protest and resist peacefully. This can be achieved by mobilizing
and educating one another that, good governance is our birth right(s). Enough
is enough. May God bless Nigeria !
By Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
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