01 Feb

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

New York, NY, November 19, 2022 – OAN, other Nigerian Organizations in U.S. still willing to hold debate for Nigerian presidential candidates

At the meeting of the Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN) and other leaders of the various Nigerian organizations in the United States held on Saturday, January 14, 2023, it was decided that Nigerians in the diaspora should continue their efforts to hold a presidential debate for candidates who are contesting in the February 25, 2023 Nigerian presidential election because of the high importance of the election. Nigeria is at a crossroad and the next President must be fully prepared to lead Nigeria and Nigerians out of the economic and security woes that have befallen our dear motherland. The new date for the virtual debate is Saturday, February 11 at 8:00pm (Nigeria Time).

In August 2022, OAN and 15 other major Nigerian Organizations in the United States extended letters of invitation to six presidential candidates for a debate slated for November 22, 2022, tagged “the Diaspora Listen” so that they could unveil their policy thrusts to Nigerians in the diaspora. The candidates were: Bola Ahmed Tinubu – All Progressives Congress; Atiku Abubakar – Peoples Democratic Party; Peter Obi – Labor Party; Kola Abiola, Peoples Redemption Party; Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, New Nigerian Peoples Party; and Hamza Al-Mustapha, Action Alliance. Only one of the candidates committed to a debate.

One of the main reasons why we are still willing to hold this debate is because the 2023 presidential election is a consequential election that would determine the fate of over 200 million people, and impact on the African continent and the Black race. This is besides the fact that Nigerians in the diaspora send billions of dollars back home annually, they also have significant influence on their friends and relatives in Nigeria. Indeed, some of the diasporas have taken the pains to travel home to register and would be traveling home to vote at the general election.

Therefore, how each candidate intends to maximize the various opportunities that abound in Nigeria and the key roles that Nigerians in the diaspora would have to play towards national development in their administration are of utmost importance to us. In addition, Nigerians in the diaspora will get firsthand information about each candidate’s plans and preparedness to lead our dear country out of the current economic doldrums and insecurity, into unity, peace, security and prosperity.

We hope that each of the candidates will respond to our clarion call to this debate no later than Friday, February 3, 2023, to allow us sufficient time to put together logistics that will make the debate successful. However, if we do not receive the necessary response by the above date, it would be incumbent upon us to endorse a candidate deemed to be in the best interest of Nigeria, after careful and consultations with relevant Nigerian diaspora stakeholders.

This position is borne out of our patriotic aspirations and supports to strengthen democracy and good governance in our dear Motherland, Nigeria. We believe that the Nigeria of our dream is possible, and everyone must contribute his or her own quota to actualize a new Nigeria. The revolution is upon us.

Signed:

Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN, Inc.)

Nigerians In Diaspora Organization, New York Chapter

Umu-Okpu Ngwa, USA Chapter 

Absolute Faith in Jesus Christ International 

Akwa Ibom State Association, New York 

Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas

Celestial Church of Christ

Igbo Organization, NY

Nigerian Independence Day Committee

Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement

Egbe Olumo Progressive Organization

Christ Apostolic Church, First in the Americas

Nigerian Nurses Association

Nigerians In Diaspora Organization, New Jersey Chapter