The tenure of Ambassador Chukwudi Newington Okafor, the Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand has not only heralded several improvements amongst Nigerians living in Thailand but has also moved Nigerians in Thailand in an upward progression in terms of discipline, co-operation and the overall push towards rebranding and repositioning Nigeria’s image in Thailand. Prior to the arrival of Ambassador Chukwudi many Nigerians in Thailand claimed that the Nigerian embassy in Bangkok and her activities in actuality remained alien and unresponsive to the needs and demands of its diplomatic responsibilities towards Nigerian nationals living in Thailand. Many Nigerians had reported some years back that the mission, the vision, and the diplomatic actions of the Nigerian embassy in Bangkok lacked the required diplomatic tenets. By then, going to the embassy as some claimed used to be frightening for many Nigerians, in addition to the fact that the long wait and rude behavior of some of the officials showed that it was nothing but a diplomatic mess happening at the Nigeria embassy, Bangkok. As at the time, it was evidently clear that the relationship between Nigerians and the Nigerian embassy was that of acrimony and zero tolerance from Nigerians. But today, the case is different, the staff attitude towards Nigerians have improved as they have become approachable to serve Nigerians, thanks to the ‘Moses’ of our time, Ambassador Chukwudi Okafor.

The visionary leadership of Ambassador Chudi has helped to fix up the unpopular past of the rapport of the Nigeria embassy and many of the Nigerian nationals living in Thailand. On inception, he went on to gather all the Nigerians in Thailand under the umbrella of a “Town Hall Meeting” as a hen would gather her chicks under her caring and shielding wings. His leadership highlighted the need to build a concourse to serve as a necessary partnership link to move Nigerians in Thailand forward. It was clear that the ambassador is really composed to work for the welfare of Nigerian citizens in the Kingdom of Thailand. The writer has been privileged to interact diligently with the Ambassador and some other embassy staff and as such, can attest to their sincerity in doing their work with diplomatic tenets needed therein. Consequently, the present embassy officers no doubt, have as their supreme priority, the welfare of Nigerians. The prevalent idea that the embassy is a place to acquire only E-passport and also endorse a document is gone under this ambassador. The majority of Nigerians have demonstrated to be at home at the embassy given the fatherly admonition of the Ambassador. It is like going to share friendly ideas with your beloved family members.

There are noticeable areas in which His Excellency has done very well especially with the help of Mr. Raymond Brown and Mr. Gayus Jalo, two of the energetic and dynamic diplomats at the embassy. Hence, the response of the embassy towards Nigerian citizens has fashioned some noteworthy changes and attitude among Nigerians living in Thailand, especially, considering how the Nigerian embassy has given listening ear and has steadily shown concerns to the predicaments of the unhappy Nigerian citizens here in Thailand. Worthy of mention is the case of quick implementation of the treaty which nearly collapsed.

In addition to this, consistent efforts have been made to ensure that all necessary attention is given to Nigerians in Jail through judicial process in Thailand, courtesy of the Nigerian embassy. The ambassador in his humane gesture has expressed how deeply touched his feelings were on the dilemmas and circumstantial abandonment felt by some of the deported Nigerians. He has future plans to coordinate with the particular agencies that will be in charge of appropriate reintegration of the deported Nigerians into normal life in Nigeria. Again, the Nigerian embassy has been aware of the various reported mistreatments of Nigerians on the streets of Bangkok by some law enforcement agencies. The ambassador has made visible efforts including following up specific cases of victims of such maltreatment in order to allow the rule of law to be properly carried. All thanks to Mr. Jalo who has demonstrated to be a task master with a great sense of commitment and passion.

To add to this, the Ambassador has been handling a lot of issues including the Emergency Travelling Certificate (ETC) cases which is demanding to some of Nigerians living in Thailand. The embassy has made adequate arrangement to bring in the Nigerian Immigration officials to Thailand for the sole purpose of serving the needs of Nigerians who may have lost their passports or whose passports have expired. The ambassador since his arrival has shown to Nigerians in Thailand that the Nigerian embassy can be trusted once more. Nigerians in Thailand now receive a swift reply from the embassy which helped to get their problems solved and at the same time would help inculcate a notch of respect before some of the Thai authorities who may have been thinking that Nigerians have no embassy.

Still on consular matters, it is noted that some consular charges have been fairly affordable and beneficial for the Nigerian citizens in the Kingdom of Thailand within the period Ambassador Chukwudi Okafor steered the affairs of the embassy. Nigerians in Thailand can now feel belonged and feel proud to identify with their embassy. This strongly suggests that a degree of assurance and national awareness has been aroused among fellow Nigerians. Now some Nigerians can move around in the streets of Bangkok and can confidently say “I am a Nigerian”, all kudos to His Excellency and his aides at the embassy who made it possible. Indeed, “Oga Chudi” can make things work and he is making it work in Thailand. It is said elsewhere that “once a winner always a winner and a star cannot be shielded from its lights”. The National Honor of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) cordially conferred on him by H.E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is an exercise in a rightful direction. The current Nigerian Ambassador to Thailand is like a candle light that illumines continuously from its position. His charismatic and diplomatic strips continue to follow him wherever he gathers Nigerians in Thailand. Other remarkable things he has done for Nigerian Community in Thailand in his tenure are:

1. Inauguration of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDOTH)
2. Inauguration of Nigerian Student Association in Thailand (NSAT)
3. Revival of Nigerian Community Association Thailand (NCAT)
4. Fatherly advice to other State Associations in Thailand
5. Rebranding the image of Nigerians via the social media
6. Census for Nigerian citizens in Thailand
7. Making the embassy to be the home for all Nigerians in Thailand

Besides, Ambassador Chukwudi had called an emergency meeting in order to revive the Nigerian Community Association in Thailand. The meeting of 3rd November, 2014 at the embassy was indeed a good move towards providing Nigerians in Thailand a more unified “community spirit”. The need for a credible Nigerian Community Association in Thailand cannot be over emphasized. Therefore, all kudos to His Excellency, Ambassador Chukwudi Okafor for this “communitarian calls”.

Having established these indisputable facts, the writer has the following to advice the participants at the ‘revival meeting’. The writer’s motive is to support the move for a better and stable Nigerian Community Association in Thailand. Therefore, this write-up suggests the following points:

1. Let all the members do thorough research, prayer and reflection before attending any meeting because the issue at hand as long as it has to be about Nigerians in Thailand needs a contextual and circumstantial approach. What happens in another country may not necessarily be applied to the issue concerning Nigerians in Thailand. It is diverse in all its form and nature.
2. Nigerians in Thailand appear to be the most dynamic and somewhat a sophisticated and a complicated group. Therefore it suggests that a sophisticated approach is also required in order to have a strong, stable and reliable Nigerian Community Association in Thailand.
3. The leaders of the recognized Nigerian State Associations in Thailand, Nigerian Pastors, Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, Thailand (NIDOTH), Nigerian Business groups, and Nigerian Student Association should be allowed to direct the affairs of the Nigerian Community in order to arrive at a strong and stable Nigerian Community Association in Thailand.
4. The Yoruba Community in Thailand must not be allowed to exclude themselves regardless of what their reasons may be. Consequently, serious efforts must be made to let them take part in the deliberation because they are Nigerians too. They may have their own legitimate reasons but it is necessary that they should comply with the embassy’s mission to help shape the situations facing Nigerians in Thailand which they are part of.
5. To this effect, the writer believes that strong, solid, stable and credible Nigerian Community Association in Thailand can emerge if these various leaders instantly become the Executives of the Nigerian Community Association for 6 months or a year with the view to help put the association in a rightful direction in line with the good intention of the Nigerian Embassy. Any sudden election without systematic groundwork may likely produce another unstable Nigerian Community Association given its history and manner of existence. Election is not the problem but the notion of credibility. The fundamental question is: Why are Nigerians in Thailand?
6. The embassy has done well by selecting these responsible men and women who are (themselves) the possible real stakeholders as far as Nigerians in Thailand are concerned, but the fact is that, if election is called most of them will not like to contest and may likely go back to their various “comfort zones” thereby leaving the association to be led by those who may not have what it takes to move the association forward. Efforts must be made to encourage “comfort zoners” to come out in this revival and rebranding mission.
7. Thus, within 6 months or a year in which these leaders will handle the affairs of things, they will help to provide and produce a stable and democratic Nigerian Community Association in Thailand.
8. Then they must be able to achieve the following:
a) Help to bring back the integrity of the association by helping some of the Nigerians who have lost interest in Nigerian Community to regain their interest in the community affairs.
b) Help to rebrand and reposition the integrity of the association before the Thailand authority. This is a must do! We have Nigerians who are capable of achieving this without necessarily being elected as an executive.
c) Help to do all that is required to get the association registered in Thailand.
d) Help to revive and reactivate the constitution drafting committee in order to have guidelines to whoever will lead the association for good.
e) Help to create the enabling atmosphere for democratic elections.
9. All the leaders of the State associations and other groups’ leaders were formerly elected with the peoples’ mandate therefore if their representatives become the executives of Nigerian Community Association in Thailand for 6 months or even a year, it is still within the democratic principle.
10. Nigerian Community Association needs leaders that will help to clean the image. Therefore the attention must be given to this image problem at this stage. This method above will help to reduce unnecessary micro politics among Nigerians here. We need unified collective efforts now.
11. The best way to answer this Ambassadorial call of unification is to go by selection not election. Most credible Nigerians are particularly serious with their jobs and do not pay attention to the community issues because of the noticeable dirty games involved. Thus, selection method will enable the “required image clean group” to come out for the sake of our country – The Federal Republic of Nigeria.
12. The selection has already been initiated and coordinated by the embassy therefore our duty should be to cement it by suggesting to the embassy what is practical, given the situation in Thailand. We have a duty here!
13. Permit me to submit without prevarication that historically and chronologically speaking, Nigerian Community Association has an image problem which could be rebranded and repositioned if “Selective Method” is used. Of course, election can also be done in a selective way in order to achieve this goal. This is, if we are really serious and honest in tackling the problems here in Thailand. It is our common responsibility and duty.
14. Let us also be aware that by the conduct of international law, any association is voluntary, thus inalienable right of any Nigerian cannot be replaced based on attending an association’s meeting. It is also not diplomatically correct to deprive a Nigerian his/her due right as a Nigerian in Thailand because he/she failed to belong to the Nigerian Community Association in Thailand. UN CHARTER on Human Right is very clear on this and Nigeria is also a signatory to the said UN CHARTER. Article 20:
a) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
b) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
15. Whatever worth doing is worth doing well, legally, globally, nationally and otherwise. The Electoral Board should not get carried away but should remain focused with the relevant and reflective questions such as: Why is Nigerian Community Association in Thailand so messed? Why are most Nigerians treated like brute animals by some Thai police men and women? Why are we singled out amongst other African nations? How can we tackle the problems? Are the problems going to be solved after the community election? On what constitutional tenets is the said election going to be conducted? Why have we consistently conducted elections for the Nigerian Community Association in Thailand without an agreed and duly signed peoples’ constitution? These and many more questions should be able to enable the Electoral Board to work more effectively and efficiently. The embassy has done its best, ours is to welcome this clarion call with sincerity and to act within the law of the Land.

Let me recall a note of warning on those things that are capable of leading Nigerians in Thailand to failure as identified by the distinguished woman of God, Pastor Mrs. Mary Frank Owali which she states as follows: “Lack of sincere love for one another, self-extremism (Proud or I know it all), unnecessary competition (it must be me), inability to tolerate one another (my opinion must prevail), unforgiving spirit (refusal to let go), lack of sincere co-operation, Sabotage ( Sambalat and Tobias attitude)” and so on.

Other grievous things that may not allow Nigerians in Thailand to progress are well articulated by His Excellency Chudi Okafor in his address to the Nigerian Community at the Town Hall meeting of August 11, 2012, so he said: “Fellow Nigerians, before we conclude, let me speak to you on three more points I consider crucial, based on my experience in dealing with the Nigerian Community. One is the need to avoid poisonous gossips, rumours and character assassination between and among yourselves. In conflict situations between States, this is called propaganda and some States have succeeded in using it to deceive and even win wars, against their perceived enemies. In human relations, unfounded rumours and cheap blackmail have torn brothers/sisters, friends and communities apart. He said and you said, or pull him down Syndrome, is a very bad attitude that must not be allowed to continue in your relationship with one another and in your various associations. We must cultivate the attitude to tell each other what we feel and not what we heard, as you may wrongly take steps you will later regret. In such situations, one mistake will lead to another, and before you know it, the damage is done”.

As a result, this write up is also a wake-up call to those Nigerians who rarely get themselves involved in the affairs of Nigerian Community in Thailand to rethink and join hands together with the recent move to revive the community because the “price paid by the wise is to be ruled by the unwise”. The side effect of the unlawful activities of few Nigerians who bring shame to us all is indeed affecting us all irrespective of who you are, provided that the Nigerian name or passport is mentioned. This is the right time to face this reality and confront it once and for all. His Excellency, Ambassador Chukwudi has extended an olive branch to us. He has challenged us. Let us come en masse and support Pastor Mrs. Mary Owali as she pilots the affairs of things as the electoral board chairperson. It is a common statement that “whatever a man does, a woman can do even better”.

Conclusively, the proper time to act collectively and sincerely is now. Nigerians in Thailand have contributed to the Thai economy in an irrefutable fashion. Nigerians in Thailand have also contributed to the Thai educational systeml. Many Nigerians in Thailand are legally and gainfully employed. Uncountable numbers of Nigerians are law abiding citizens. Therefore, letting the activities of the few to continuously tarnish the image of Nigerian Community in Thailand is unfair and unacceptable. It is the writer’s considered view that all Nigerians in Thailand should come out en masse for this process of image cleansing even as we must work hard to discourage our fellow Nigerians who break the law to desist from such. A crime is crime irrespective of where it is committed. Thus a crime is unacceptable nationally and globally. Let us work for a peaceful society for we are all human. Peace in the Lord!

Emmanuel Nweke Okafor is a Nigerian professional teacher in Thailand. He is a lecturer in Siam University. He is presently a supervisor in the Language Laboratory Center in Siam University. He is also a student in Political Science Program in Politics and International Relations in prestigious Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand. He can be contacted via his email address okaforemma@yahoo.com