Barely 24 hours after the redeployment of Sen. Victor Umeh from the Senate Committee Chairman on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Hon. Kenneth Gbandi, a man renowned for not seeing anything good in Nigeria and Nigerians, has taken to town again in his usual stock in trade of running down achievers and compatriots as if he has no other job, which, in fairness, he does not. So, may be he has created an oversight function for himself to keep him busy, albeit a very mischievous one.
This time around, he took on Sen. Umeh, who has achieved greatness during his short tenure on his last committee assignment, as well as a Senator representing his people well.
It is obvious from his write-up that he did not get the attention of Senator Umeh, who refused to be dragged into petty, tribal politics.
It is worthy of note that most of the allegations labelled against him on the issue of diaspora voting are not correct. His view is that a lot needs to be put in place before subjecting the Diaspora to vote to avoid breach in any form whatsoever. To me, this is not a bad opinion, an opinion echoed by many.
As a Senator, he has his fundamental human rights to air his own opinion on any matter.
Similarly, regarding the condusive Investment Climate Policies, it is not the responsibility of the Senator to create that for the Diasporas beyond his legislative duties, which he has performed creditable well. It is the duty of the executive arm through its ministries, departments, and agencies. Such responsibilities are being handled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Investment, as well as Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM). The Commission every November holds the annual Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS), a platform where business owners and prospective investors meet and interact for possible investment opportunities.
Sen. Umeh attended the past two events since the inauguration of his committee and had the opportunity to interact with the Diasporas in attendance. The Diaspora in the last five years, has been investing massively in healthcare, good business, education, ICT, and agriculture. And a lot more is on the way, with the Minister of Trade promising soon to be rolled out targeted incentives.
Am equally aware that , NiDCOM in collaboration with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has the Diaspora Mortgage Housing Scheme Project, a project designed for the Diaspora to own their own properties in any part of the country without loosing funds
Senator Umeh’s legislative backing has been crucial
In a nutshell, it will be unfair for Gbandi and his cohorts to rubbish the achievements of the distinguished senator on the alter of opposition.
Umeh has, on many occasions, been identified with the Dispora Communities and has been so acknowledged.
Encomiums still continue to pour in on his most recent robust engagements in Canada and South Africa and his demand for intervention in cases of Nigerians in foreign prisons.
On the issue of board for the Diaspora Commission, this is at the behest of Mr President and has nothing to do with the Senator, even though, the whole world knows that Gbandi is desperately lobbying for it since the establishment of NIDCOM, so as to turn it to be another sit-tight NIDO Europe where Gbandi refused to vacate the seat even after the expiration of his tenure. Thanks to Gbandhi and his handful of cohorts, NIDOe is now torn apart . With the Oronsaye report, which recommends NiDCOM to be an agency rather than a Commission ,the status of the board is unclear.
Let me use this opportunity to advise the newly appointed Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Natasha Akpoti to be wary of slippery critics like Kenneth Gbandi and concentrate on her legislative duties geared towards achieving excellence for her Kogi constituencies as well as Nigerians in the Diaspora. Gbandi ’s criticism, in less than 24 hours of Senator Natasha’s appointment, is just an attempt to lick her boots. She should consult widely and intelligently so that she will not fall prey to the likes of Gbandhi.
We wish Senator Umeh well in his new Chairmanship position, but one thing is certain. The Diaspora community would miss his wealth of knowledge, words of encouragement, and wisdom.
● Emmy Ekong is based in Warri.
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