Nigerians in Diaspora Worldwide, yesterday, threatened to withhold over $23 billion yearly remittances to the country after the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Wase, allegedly infringed on their rights.
The group, in a petition, addressed to Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila called on President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on Wase to reverse his rejection of a complaint by the Mutual Union of Tiv in America on issues relating to land grab in Benue State.

The Nigerians abroad threatened to halt immediate fund repatriation if the demand fails to see the light of day in 14 days.

Wase, who presided over plenary last Wednesday, had rejected a petition presented by the member representing Gwer East/West Federal Constituency of Benue State, Mark Gbillah, on behalf of Tiv people living in America.

The Diaspora group had petitioned the House over alleged take-over of their ancestral lands, forcing their kith and kin to flee for safety.

In the request, the Nigerians drew from Europe, the Americas, Asia, Oceania, Middle East, and Africa, demanded a reversal of Wase’s stance on the matter.

They also demanded an unconditional public apology from the deputy speaker, adding that Gilbah should be allowed to present the motion for and on behalf of them as a concerned group of Nigerians overseas.

The aggrieved citizens equally urged Gbajabiamila to convene an urgent virtual meeting with the Nigerians in Diaspora community to address the issue and reassure them of his full support.

The petition read in part: “We cannot understand up till now, why Hon. Ahmed Wase, a person occupying such a high position in the National Assembly, has decided to run down the whole Nigerians in Diaspora and the policy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Diaspora in such a manner at a time when the contributions of the Nigerians in Diaspora are highly needed and desired.

“Such action and statement are clearly at variance with what we, the Nigerians in Diaspora, are being made to understand and believe by the Federal Government of Nigeria. We are still in shock and total disbelief that everything that has been done and achieved in the last 20 years on Diaspora engagement is now being rubbished and put to nullity by the utterances of one single person.

“Rt. Honourable Speaker, the Nigerians in Diaspora have been extremely patient with the broken promises of both the government and the legislators, where the rights of Nigerians in Diaspora to vote have been treated with levity. Even at that, the Nigerians in Diaspora community have never faltered in remitting millions of foreign currencies to Nigeria and bringing in potential investors. Wase castigated and called us intruders.”

thebosstrevor1:
They can hold it.

Let them continue to deceive themselves. Na their families go suffer.

If Nigerian abroad truelly send 29 billion dollars, we wont be in any dollars crises even if the price of oil falls.

In 2019, Nigeria oil revenue was $64.9 billion, so this people abroad are telling us that they send almost half of the country's oil revenue. What a joke.

Infact oil and agriculture are the bulk of Nigeria's revenue, not diaspora remittance.

thebosstrevor1:
They can hold it.

Let them continue to deceive themselves. Na their families go suffer.

If Nigerian abroad truelly send 29 billion dollars, we wont be in any dollars crises even if the price of oil falls.

In 2019, Nigeria oil revenue was $64.9 billion, so this people abroad are telling us that they send almost half of the country's oil revenue. What a joke.

Infact oil and agriculture are the bulk of Nigeria's revenue, not diaspora remittance.

BlackfireX:
jobless frustrated so called abroad base should keep quiet, how much are they remitting?? is it not to/ for their personal use here in Nigeria...

if we check they got the money through illegal means...and this govt of no- nonsense don't want there dirty money



we the youths stand with our Darling president... zaddy oyoyo..

SarkinYarki:


They actually do send in about 24 billion dollars annually and it's very confirmed

EastisBae:


Jon Snow, you know nothing!
Why not Google remmitances recipient countries and see how much Nigeria earns from its diaspora population instead of exposing your ignorance?

Nigeria is among the world's largest remmitances receiving countries and it fetches us far more money/forex than agriculture or any other commodity aside crude oil.

SarkinYarki:
Wase doesn't know how much Diaspora people funds help our battered Economy especially during Buhari govt

ednut1:
Empty threats, you no go fit starve your family members cause of one foolish Wase.

Golan007:


The threat is just funny.

Simplyleo:

I still don't understand what kind of threat this is.

Are they sending the dollars to Nigerian account or to their families?

Just like a man threatening to stop taking care of his family for whatever reason.

They can withhold their remmittance, maybe so buhari will die of hunger.

Whatever benefit Nigeria stand to gain from the remmittance can go to blazes.

Nonsense and ingredients.

stanliwise:

Baba calm down and listen.
Those $24billions dollar are why some companies you see today are standing.
Some business owners and employers of labour, got those money from their brothers oversea and started business.
Look at it anyway you want, if those remittance are taken form Nigeria.
Indirectly everybody go hear am,
Relatives of yours could lose job.
And that guy at the corner could decide to turn an arm robber.

Infact what am I saying sef, make for real life $24billion dollar stop, e go choke everybody one way or the other.

thebosstrevor1:
They can hold it.

Let them continue to deceive themselves. Na their families go suffer.

If Nigerian abroad truelly send 29 billion dollars, we wont be in any dollars crises even if the price of oil falls.

In 2019, Nigeria oil revenue was $64.9 billion, so this people abroad are telling us that they send almost half of the country's oil revenue. What a joke.

Infact oil and agriculture are the bulk of Nigeria's revenue, not diaspora remittance.

thebosstrevor1:


Pls shows us the government data were it is written that they send 24 billion dollars annually