President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that Nigerians living in the Diaspora will not be able to participate in the 2011 general election until a particular provision on general elections in the constitution is amended.
Jonathan, who was responding to an appeal made by Nigerians in Diaspora for the extension of their voting rights to their places of residence to ensure that they exercise their franchise in the 2011 general elections, said it was not feasible since the general election is a few months away.
He stated that time is too short to include Nigerians in the Diaspora in the voting exercise, adding that Nigerians are determined to get it right this time, therefore the process of registering which is yet to be done in the country cannot be extended to them if it has to be concluded before the elections..
The President who was represented by the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed made the disclosure at the 4th National Diaspora Conference with the theme Nigeria at 50: the Role of the Diaspora in National Development yesterday in Minna.
Jonathan assured the Nigerians in Diaspora that despite that the National Assembly is yet to resolve the issue of their inclusion in the voting exercise of 2011, he promised that everything will be done to make it possible for them to exercise their franchise if not in 2011, the next general elections.
“I note with sadness that Nigerians in Diaspora have not been exercising their fundamental rights as Nigerians. This is essentially a constitutional issue but as a responsible Government, we shall do everything to promote the fundamental rights of Nigerians wherever they are”.
Speaking to the 288 Nigerians in Diaspora from about 20 countries who converged in Minna to discuss on issues that affect the development of the country, Jonathan encouraged them to continue to be ambassadors of the country wherever they find themselves, adding that the attitude of Nigerians living abroad will prove to the world that the country is serious with its re-branding
campaign.
According to the president, the conference was held with the purpose of pooling resources and focus of the development challenges facing the country and to proffer solution to them, especially the area of turning the brain drain syndrome to brain gain for the country.
Speaking earlier, Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, said it was imperative for the organisation of the conference to enable Nigerians in Diaspora to contribute their wealth of knowledge to national development.
Aliyu encouraged them to invest in Nigeria , adding that their commitment and investment in Nigeria will encourage foreign direct investment into the country.
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