Diaspora votes should count in 2015 – UK PDP Secretary

                                                     

Secretary of the United Kingdom chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Olayemi Ayeni, in this interview with MUDIAGA AFFE, speaks on plans to ensure that Nigerians in the Diaspora exercise their voting rights in the 2015 general elections.

Considering the high population of Nigerians in the UK, what move is the party making to ensure that they exercise their franchise in the 2015 general elections?

Over the years, Nigerians in the Diaspora have been disenfranchised due to the lack of a voting system that guarantees their participation in elections. Official figures put the population of Nigerians in the United Kingdom at 1.5 million, but realistic estimates put the figures at quite over two million. Nigerians in the Diaspora Organisation has made frantic efforts to engage the Federal Government of Nigeria on the importance of our citizens living outside the country to have the same voting opportunity with their counterparts at home. I am very sure President Goodluck Jonathan has considered this as a priority. No doubt, he is very passionate about this yearning of Nigerians in the Diaspora. As a branch of the party, we shall continue to sing this song into their ears.

Has there been any form of mobilisation for Nigerians abroad especially in the UK to come back home to register as voters?

We have been consistently mobilising Nigerians who have the means to come home and register during registration exercises. As part of our efforts, we are at the verge of discussing with INEC to allow Nigerians abroad to register at the Nigerian High Commission or Embassy in their various countries of residence. I believe as soon as the issue of their voting right is perfected, the process of registration will be incorporated. I personally make it a point of duty to be at home during elections. What we have been doing is to sensitise our people that election begins during voters’ registration not on the Election Day. They must try as much as possible to schedule their travel plans towards election periods. This is the best way we can ascertain our participation in the electoral processes in our country while Mr. President continues perfecting the voting system for those in the Diaspora.

If eventually the struggle for those in the Diaspora to vote fails before the 2015 elections, is there an arrangement for your members to come back home to vote?

You see, many Nigerians are ready to come home to exercise their voting rights but the means might not be available. In the course of my discussion with many Nigerians here in the UK, if resources are available, I tell you, Nigeria, as a country, will witness a tremendous number of her citizen from abroad during elections. We are actually working out a far-reaching modality on this. You see, the most important thing is commitment, readiness and willingness which they have shown. We are aware it will be inappropriate for the Federal Government to provide these resources but believe me, some contestants provide the means for their supporters to be on the ground during elections while many Nigerians abroad have their travel plans already made in favour of election timetables in Nigeria. Among these people is my humble self. We cannot just sit down here and be saying they are not doing it right. We must be involved and the time is now. We are going to mobilise Nigerians to exercise their voting rights this time around.

Is your chapter of the party planning any fund raiser to support candidates during the 2015 polls?

Our support is not limited to raising fund. We are strongly and consistently in support of our candidates at all levels both morally and financially. We have families at home whose voting discretions are being influenced by people abroad. They call every moment for our opinions on where to go and what to do as per elections. Our priority is to see all our party candidates win their elections. We shall do everything legally possible to ensure their victory at the polls. We are working day and night to make sure that President Goodluck Jonathan stays beyond 2015. He has not declared his intention to contest comes 2015 but we believe that he must be allowed to finish the laudable projects he has started. These are long term projects that would benefit this generation and the generations to come. He is a quintessential leader that can bring the glory of Nigeria back.

What role has your chapter of the PDP played to ensure that peace returns to your parent body in Nigeria?

Our party is not troubled. It is a phase we must pass through. Bear in mind that PDP is the largest party in Africa; so, you should expect disagreement within the party. PDP is a big family and no matter the level of the disagreement, there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. PDP in the UK believes in an indivisible existence of all members. As far as I am concerned, I am just waiting for the reconciliation to come to fruition which I am very positive about.

Has the New PDP berthed in the UK chapter?

(Laughs) …I tell you, PDP is one. The conflict of interest that is ongoing will make our party stronger. We must commend Mr. President for his maturity in handling this issue. As part of the larger family, we are making every effort to remain loyal to the party under the leadership of Bamanga Tukur.

It is very important to state that INEC recognises only one Peoples Democratic Party under Dr. Bamanga Tukur. So, we cannot have two parties in a party. PDP is PDP, any other formation is theatrical display. Very soon, you will see that this is a family issue that a stranger must not be entangled with. No matter how a stranger celebrates a discord in a family, as soon as the family members realise the importance and significance of the cord that ties them together, the stranger will cease the drum of war and there will be no room for him to stay anymore.

What is your position on the planned National Dialogue?

This is the best thing that could happen at this hour in our country. We must be thankful to a President that attends to the yearnings of his citizens. But it is very disheartening that the leader of opposition party is playing politics with the future of Nigeria because of selfish reasons. If few years back, even prior to the ascendancy to the highest echelon of the government by President Goodluck Jonathan, there was a ubiquitous campaign for the convocation of a national conference by the opposition leaders, activists and concerned Nigerians.

If not that the President believes in the sovereignty of the people by doing what they want, a different school of thought would have prevailed on Mr. President by considering the fact that inauguration of a national committee would be tantamount to duplicating the functions of members of National Assembly. You will agree with me that members of Senate and House of Representatives are drawn from various constituencies in Nigeria, thus representing the people through a popular election by Nigerians. But if it is the agitation of the generality of Nigerians that they want national conference, so be it. I wonder why many are perturbed and confused about the nomenclature, whether Sovereign National Conference, National Conference or National Dialogue. Besides, the President has made it public that the committee can call it any name they want. Many have spoken against it as if Mr. President has anything to gain in the composition or inauguration of the committee.

Many are ignorant of the fact that sovereignty belongs to the people and the ball has been thrown into the court of Nigerians. It seems people on the side of anti-national conference campaign are totally confused. This antagonism is coming strongly from the opposition and their sympathisers because of political scores they want to settle. If they do not believe in the efficiency and ability of their members in the Senate and House of Representatives, what is stopping them from recalling them? Perhaps they have lost trust in them, they should say it out. Nigeria is blessed with a focused President who will not be blackmailed to rubbish the rule of law.

I say to you, it takes just a member of National Assembly to run to court and invalidate the decision of any Sovereign National Conference by the virtue of constitutional provision that empowers them. Do we consider the circumstances by which Sovereign National Conference was originally coined in the Republic of Benin in 1989 and followed by Republic of Congo in 1991? Some of the advocates of Sovereign National Conference in Nigeria championed the course to end military rule and promulgate a generally acceptable constitution for Nigerians. What we need now is to support Mr. President with this laudable idea and find lasting solution to the socio-political and economic problems threatening the survival of Nigeria.