If I Were Nigerian Diaspora

2007 is the year of change. It is proving so in many nations, alas! For us in Nigeria, we prepare for political change. We therefore hinge so much on the April General Elections. Sadly, and even
short-sightedly, our leaders failed or conspired not to amend our constitution to provide for the much-desired "independent candidacy" this time around. Not to worry, its time will soon and surely come. Oh yes.

On this day, we must call on our sons and daughters abroad to fully participate in the ongoing electoral process in other strategic and creative ways. Starting with the local government polls, they need to make the home-folks move in the right direction. To support and influence the screening and fielding of credible and competent candidates at that level is very critical to our collective future, without being necessarily partisan. Upgrading the voter-consciousness rather than apathy for political change is best when those "enlightened" souls out there bombard their own "home base" with solidarity and encouragement. Please speak out, and always speak up!

In this regard, I must single out the Yoruba and Igbo sectors of our diaspora. They have been visible in their political crusading. They should keep it up, and expand the foray. The Hausa do need to learn from these groups, to balance the historical tripod. As for the Minorities or other groups, we need to do more than the historical agitation against marginalisation. We must first get good people into elective and appointive offices, so that our home base be secure and robust for further interventions. Especially in the Niger Delta region!

This message is crucial now because we seem to be blaming only the federal government for all the ills in the land, while the huge resources available at the states and local governments levels apparently go down the drain! That cannot be right. Combined, the other two tiers do command more money than the federal. We should put the right calibre of people in charge there rather than cry over spilt (or gluttonous-consumed!) milk. Isn't prevention better than cure? Always!

So, dear compatriots, if I were in the Nigerian Diaspora, I will mobilise and motivate and beg and blackmail and cajole all my brethren back home to act for change, today. I will also task my fellow diasporans to do same.

Once we succeed, one key project post-INAUGURATION will be "independent candidature" with its logical twin of "overseas voting". Simply put, constitution review!