Politics
ABIKE Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, has appealed once again to all stakeholders, especially Nigerians living abroad to remain calm as the controversial issue of the presentation of a petition by Mark Gbillah from Benue State on behalf of Mzough U Tiv Amerika, MUTA, which was rejected by the Deputy Speaker, Idris Ahmed, who presided over the day’s plenary session.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, Dabiri-Erewa, said that the Commission had intimated the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as the Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora, Tolu Akande Shadipe, of the numerous petitions and concerns of Nigerians abroad on the issue.
She expressed optimism that the leadership of the House of Representatives would resolve the issue amicably, adding that the role and contributions of Nigerians in diaspora home and abroad are most
appreciated and can never be ignored.
It will be recalled that there was a viral video of the plenary session of the House, wherein the Deputy Speaker of the House, Ahmed Idris Wase, presiding turned down a presentation of a petition by Mark Gbillah, PDP, representing Gwer East-Gwer West constituency of Benue State filed by Mzough U Tiv Amerika on insecurity in Benue.
But Dabiri-Erewa in a letter to the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila on Monday and copied to the House Committee Chairman on Diaspora, said the commission received complaints from Nigerians in the Diaspora expressing their anger over the stand of the Deputy Speaker when the matter was presented in the House.
“The video has inflamed tension and caused a significant uproar amongst Nigerians in Diaspora community.
“In view of this, we appeal to the Speaker to intervene and use your good office to do all that can be done to mitigate the effect of this unfortunate incidence,” the letter read in part.
– Mar. 18, 2021 @ 16:38 GMT
Tags: Petition: Dabiri-Erewa appeals for calm from all stakeholders
