By Adeyinka Olaiya
The Nígerian community in Brazil yesterday reacted over the derogatory statement uttered by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives against the Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Reacting to the video that went viral where the Deputy Speaker of the National House of Representatives, Honorable Ahmed Wase denigrated the status of the Nigerians in diaspora, Dr Emmanuel Oluwatuyi, the president of the Nigerian community in Brazil lamented that a Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives could be so degrading and ignorant in his utterances about the Nigerians in diaspora , he expressed annoyance at the attitude of the deputy speaker who did not only condemn the Nigerians in diaspora but also stopped a fellow lawmaker from presenting an urgent petition sent by a diaspora group to the House of Representatives demanding an immediate action from the federal authorities over the dislocation of the Tivs in their communities.
According to the Nigerians living in Brazil , practically all the Nigerian ethnic groups and associations in Brazil have been sending palliatives , masks , financial assistance , medications and several other necessities to help Nigerian families at home during this pandemic period . Nigerian in Diaspora Organization, Americas /Brazil chapter , Brazil chapter did not only distribute palliatives to respective Nigerian families during this pandemic attacks but also rendered financial assistance to families at home . The Yoruba group , Egbe Omo Oodua in Brazil also distributed.
Honorable Ahmed Wase who in the video said that the focus in the house is to attend only to Nigerians living at home , he refused listening to petitions from any diaspora group . Ahmed Wase condemned the Nigerian constitution over dual citizenship , he said that the Nigerians in diaspora should have no say in Nigeria since many of them are likely to be having other nationalities apart from been Nigerians
Mr. Chuks Iloegbunam, a Brazil based Nigerian lawyer and educator said “ It is a shame that the deputy speaker of the national House of Representatives can be so brutal in words against the Nigerians in diaspora .
I can not understand how such an ignorant person could be voted for , I wonder how he got to the House of Representatives and even became a deputy speaker. He is not even aware that the constitution permits you to have dual citizenship. Many of us here in Brazil are having the Brazilian nationality because we are here for many years and it is our right , it does not mean that we are no longer Nigerians . I urge the National House of Representatives to see to the issue and caution the speaker against uttering such a statement again . It is disgusting to hear such from a law maker “ he lamented.
Also reacting to the statement from the African cultural center in Saopaulo, Brazil , Oba Ogboni Iwase, Adekunle Aderounmu “ it is disgusting to hear such a statement proceeding from a lawmaker who should promote oneness , he should know that he is a parliamentarian who can cause a commotion with a derogatory statement of such . We all have our families and loved ones in Nigeria.. Having other nationality can not erase your nationality as a Nigerian , it can not remove you from your ancestral home. Today, many Nigerians at home are hoping on their families in diaspora to help them overcome hunger that is striking the nation in the recent times “ he concluded.
Mr Adeyemi Kayode Bamidele , the president of Egbe Omo Oodua, a Yoruba community group in Brazil reacted furiously to the video “ it is sad to hear such a statement proceeding from the speaker of the national House of Representatives. It seems they forget why they are voted and what they are voted for when they assume offices . If the Nigerians in Diaspora means nothing , why then did the federal government appoint Abike Dabiri in Abuja to attend to the Nigerians living abroad ? It is sad that a speaker of the house can be so ignorant and annoying in his statement . Some representations must be made against such parliamentarian by the Nigerians in disporá “ he said..
According to the Nigerians living in Brazil , practically all the Nigerian ethnic groups and associations in Brazil have distributed palliatives , masks , financial assistance , medications to Nigerians in Brazil and also in Nigeria.