Until the recent appointment of Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, most Nigerians, I believe, had never heard of the role 'Special Assistant Diaspora Affairs' post. This role was apparently “formalized” under Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo's Administration, during which four special assistants were appointed between 2002 -2007. The roles and responsibilities of this function are unclear to most, as well as the required personnel qualifications, background and experiences needed for the position.
Until the recent appointment of Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, most Nigerians, I believe, had never heard of the role 'Special Assistant Diaspora Affairs' post. This role was apparently “formalized” under Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo's Administration, during which four special assistants were appointed between 2002 -2007. The roles and responsibilities of this function are unclear to most, as well as the required personnel qualifications, background and experiences needed for the position.
Judging from the recent appointment of Mrs. Ojukwu and other notable appointments, which included Ms. Jumoke-Akinjide Balogun (daughter of former Attorney General, Chief Richard Akinjide), and Ms. Rita Abebe (sister of late Mrs. Stella Obasanjo), none of whom are known for any notable Diaspora initiative, one might conclude that this role was created for political patronage, without serious considerations for harnessing the boundless potentials of the Diaspora, to meaningfully assist re-invent and move Nigeria forward.
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Anyone born in Nigeria after 1966 has likely not experienced organized accountable governance in the country, and are unfortunately the ones administering our public and private sectors today. Most of them are smart, resourceful, but lack the regenerative innovative purpose for national development, due to a bastardized society that profusely glorifies ill-gotten wealth. There is a consensus that Nigeria is in a deep rot, with most of her best minds trapped in it, internally. Without appropriate intervention, especially with the help of those objectively looking from the outside in, Nigeria may be headed off the cliff like other African nations in the news lately. A rescue mission is desperately needed!
At different stages of our existence, Diaspora Nigerians have stepped up to and contributed significantly to the resolution of mind-boggling challenges confronting the nation. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and others rose to the occasion, and mid-wived the birth of an independent Nigeria. Edward Oparaoji, Hafsat Abiola, Kieuwa Obaseki, Kofi Egbo, Kayode Oladele, Frank Ekhator, Mohammed Ighile, Edwin Udenkwo, Wale Alade, Kayode Fayemi, Bolaji Aluko various Diaspora Nigerian organizations and many others, helped build and exercise the international muscles that defeated the Nigerian dictatorship during the June 12 struggle. US-based groups such as The Nigerian Pro-Democracy Network (NPDN), Nigerian Democratic Awareness Committee (NDAC), and Eastern Mandate Union (EMU)-Abroad, successfully prosecuted ex-Nigerian Dictators Abdusalami Abubakar, Ibrahim Babangida and others in the US courts for human rights abuses, and for many years kept them avoiding setting foot in US. Against this background, Diaspora Nigerians must once again elevate our purpose beyond the mundane for other much needed major rescue mission.
Every rescue mission must have an objective. In my assessment, the rot we find ourselves in, may be largely due to lack of emotional investment in Nigeria by Nigerians, who see the nation either as a lie or a cow to be selfishly carved, not nourished. This unfortunate relationship may be because, since the Northern and Southern protectorates were amalgamated by Lord Frederick Lugard in 1914, to form the space now known as Nigeria, there has never been an inclusive dialogue leading to a social compact or a legitimate constitution. Consequently, Nigeria has been hobbled by turbulent and unstable governments, despite the so-called practice of 'democracy'. Although Nigeria attained independence from Britain in 1960, she has become one of the very disappointing cases of an African country unable to institutionalize credible democratic governance.
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We currently operate a constitution handed down by the military which blatantly lied from the opening that it was by “We The People...” On this false document, a wobbly unsustainable political system was perched solely to sustain the same elite class that has unjustly cornered the resources of the country since independence. Without any emotional attachment to the constitution, most Nigerians consciously or subconsciously believe every process in Nigeria lacks merit; systems can be forged and manipulated with little or no consequences (such as the census, elections, law and order, justice, equity and punishment, education, qualifications and employment); no access to quality healthcare and basic living essentials; rights and privileges trampled on; non-existing protection of life and property; and the list goes on and on.
Why must we continue to operate a fraudulent constitution handed down by a military regime we defeated, as if we are all zombies? We cannot be free from the control of our oppressive regimes and their civilian collaborators, who will still selfishly parade the corridors of power if we continue to operate from their playbook. Our last hurdle to freedom and next Herculean rescue mission will be a showdown for a new people’s constitution. We must stand up, stand firm with all we can muster as long as it takes, to break this last shackle. We must finish the job of rescuing Nigeria!
This is not going to be a cake walk. The thought of drafting and adopting a new People's constitution is excruciating and scary, but so was the initial thought around fighting and defeating the British, our military, the fall of the Berlin wall, the collapse of the Soviet Union and recently the Tunisian and Egyptian dictatorship.
In medicine, for a decaying wound to heal, an aggressive painful and bleeding debridement is required. Late MKO Abiola once said, every successful new birth is arduous, it takes nine months, ending with bleeding and tears - tears of pain and joy. The status quo has failed. Tinkering with or amending our rogue constitution, perpetrated by rogue politicians will not work!
The objective of our rescue mission should be to aggressively advocate and facilitate the completion of a new people’s constitution by October 1, 2013 in readiness for 2015 elections. Diaspora Nigerians must not be lulled and enrolled into the undistinguished debate of who is the captain or who appointed whom for what, in a sinking vessel requiring a massive rescue operation. Our role and situation are Herculean and must not be trivialized. EMU-Abroad plans to take an official position on this matter and publish on the Internet on or before March 31, 2011, and I urge other groups to do the same. Thereafter, we will link and dialogue with groups and individuals with similar agenda for a possible summit to adopt an action plan. We must begin or we have failed as citizens! Our start on this is the beginning of success towards building a truly democratic Nigeria.
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