Deputy Speaker of Nigerian House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, who sat in for the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila on Thursday, has said that Nigerians in the Diaspora have no right sending petitions to the House on issues of insecurity happening in Nigeria.
Wase said this when a lawmaker, Mark Gbillah, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), representing Gwer East-Gwer West constituency of Benue State at the National Assembly, attempted to submit a petition filed by Mzough U Tiv Amerika on insecurity in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba.
In response, Gbillah argued that Nigerians abroad should be able to file complaints because they have family members residing in the state.
Wase quickly countered by asking if MUTA was duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, but Gbillah answered him that Section 40 of the constitution does not stop citizens from freedom of association.
As Gbillah’s petition was subsequently rejected without any opposition from any member in the chamber, video of the incident has begun attracting comments on social media with many lambasting Wase and arguing that Nigeria cannot appeal to its Diaspora to remit billions home but still be denied a voice at home.
Former Chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Chidi Odinkalu, said on Twitter, “So, the House of Representatives can so blithely strip Nigerians outside the borders of the country of their citizenship and rights?
“Is it ignorance or bias or biased ignorance that drives this presiding officer in this piece of inspired parliamentary silliness?
“The same ninnies who pull this kind of nonsense habitually will show up tomorrow and tell you how Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable when they themselves have made it a tradable commodity and have made good bartering it for convenience all their lives, even in parliament.”
Osarenkhoe Brown also tweeted, “Cows in Diaspora are citizens of Nigeria wherever they are and wherever they come from.
Ancestral children of Nigeria living in Diaspora communities are not citizens of Nigeria. Consequently, if you are not a herdsman or have cows and live outside Nigeria, you have lost citizenship.”
@ADUTUK tweeted, “And the CBN and Nigerian government are here begging for their dollars but don’t want to hear their petition, just crazy, double standards everywhere. Shame on you and your assembly.”