A mild drama occurred on the floor of the House of Representatives on Thursday as the Speaker told a Member of the House that: Nigerians abroad have no right to complain about insecurity bedeviling the nation.
Ahmed Wase, the deputy speaker of the House made the statement while standing in for the speaker of green chamber, Femi Gbajabiamila, who was absent, in reaction to the move by Hon Mark Terseer Gbillah to present a petition filed by Mzough U Tiv Amerika (MUTA) on insecurity in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba.
The lawmaker representing Gwer East/Gwer West was accosted by the Deputy Speaker who asked “if they (the petitioners) are in America, could they really be an interested party here”.
Arguing that they have no right to question the government, the deputy speaker said it would be comprehensible if the petition is coming from those who are within the country.
“Honourable Gbillah, did you say Tivs in America? What do they know about Nigeria? What is their business? They can’t sit in their comfort zones and know what is happening in Nigeria,” Mr Wase said.
In response, Mr Gbillah explained that Nigerians abroad have family members who are at times victims of insecurity.
“Some of them are just studying, some just went they to do courses and they’re a union and are Nigerian citizens,” the Benue lawmaker argued and cited section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution which recognises freedom of association.
But the Deputy Speaker queried if MUTA was registered with the Corporate Affairs of Commission (CAC) to begin with but was countered on grounds that Nigeria has been pursuing a policy of inclusiveness for its citizens in the Diaspora, an aim that would easily be defeated if the same category of Nigerians cannot be allowed to speak on raging matters of national concern.
“I’ll refer you to the functions of the committee on diaspora, if you go through that, it is nothing relevant to what you’re now presenting, I’m not convinced that we have to take that petition,” the presider said.
Watch the video of the encounter below:
