2023: Group Urges INEC Not To Disenfranchise Diasporans

By Akinwale Kasali

As the 2023 General Elections draw near, an advocacy and support group, One Nation, One Destiny Advocacy and Awareness Initiative has called on the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu led Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to give Nigerians in the Diaspora equal opportunity of voting come 2023.

The Group said this will support relevant Government agencies saddled with the responsibility of sensitising Nigerian citizens towards a national rebirth.

At its inaugural meeting via zoom, the Group issued a statement duly signed and made available to the media by the National Coordinator, Hajia Khalima Kabir Lamisila.

Lasmisila said that:

“Technology has made things simpler and there is no excuse not to enfranchise Nigerians in Diaspora in the coming general elections”.

The statement further reads,

“Since 2012, six Members of Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives led by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, House Committee Chair on Nigerians in the Diaspora sponsored a Legislative Bill that sought to amend Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2010 in order to grant Nigerians in the Diaspora the right to vote during general elections in Nigeria.

It, however, called on relevant stakeholders in Government and private organisations as well as development partners at home and abroad to join hands with the group in expediting action in good time to factor Nigerians in Diaspora in Nigeria’s electoral system.

The Group with the focus of building a new nation equally advocates for a change of attitude by its citizens, calling on well-meaning Nigerians to join in the task of using the instruments of love and unity as yardsticks for establishing oneness and togetherness in Nigeria.

The highlights of the meeting include: having royal fathers as peace ambassadors as  a way to reach their subjects.

The group also resolved in supporting relevant government agencies saddled with the responsibility of sensitising the people towards national rebirth.

The need to use electronic, print media and social media to reach larger percentage of the Nigerian populace as a way of proffering solutions to the Nation’s problems  by making the people aware of the government’s efforts in attending to their needs.

The meeting was attended by the other national officers of the group namely Engr. Jeleel Haleem Project Coordinator, Mr. Abdulrahman Aliagan, Director Media ICT & Research and Mr. Olatunbosun Awe Director Policy, Strategy, Advocacy & Networking.

One Nation, One Destiny Movement is a socio-political Movement that is out to project and promote democracy and credible leaders that will serve as a lasting solution and answer to leadership question in Nigeria. The Movement is a borrowed leaf from a Philosophy that changed the narrative in the United States of America till date for the better, “The Manifest Destiny”, though with a sharp difference in approach and ideology.

It identifies the roles of leaders in any given organized society as vital for the development and sustenance. The group is also aware that corruptions, self-serving policies, nepotism, weak institutions, constitutional abuse among others are the major problems affecting leadership in Nigeria.

The movement identifies the wide gap in the issue of leadership Thrust; it sees the need and is taking the lead at ensuring that Nationalist and Patriotic leaders are taking charge of the see country’s affairs through awareness, education and advocacy programme.