According to Patrick Henry, “The eternal difference between right and wrong does not fluctuate, it is immutable.” And I hereby affirm that the disenfranchisement of the Nigerian Diaspora community, worldwide, was wrong yesterday, it is wrong today and it will be wrong tomorrow. In fact, it will continue to be wrong as long as we remain complacent. Together, we can right the wrong. Sign the Diaspora voting right petition at www.ourvotecounts.org.

It is very encouraging to see the range of diverse opinions on this issue. As far as I am concerned, it adds to our collective strength, when freedom of expression is allowed to flourish. Though that does not obtain in this case, but believe it or not, sometimes salvation is achieved by listening to dissenting/differing voices. Having considered the dissenting inputs, I still hold very steadfastly that fighting for the voting rights of the Nigerian Diaspora community is the right thing to do. It is right for us, right for children and right for our children unborn. Frankly, a closer look at the dissenting opinions will reveal that none is really against our right to vote, but rather most are concerned about related and unrelated issues, like electoral fraud in Nigeria, implementation methodology of the process of voting from abroad and misplaced priorities.

Let’s face it, if we have to wait until a perfect system for this fight is designed before we started, then we must wait forever and the statuesque will be maintained indefinitely. There is absolutely no perfect system, but working together and making necessary adjustments, we can chart a better course for our cause. Please support and sign the petition at www.ourvotecounts.org.

For those who are concerned about how we can successfully vote from abroad, if granted the right to vote, please allow me to tell you the story of a man who announced that he will slaughter a goat for a celebration. Upon hearing the announcement, his two boys starting fighting over who will eat the goat head. Some teeth were knocked out, arms broken, but in the end, their father was not able to slaughter a goat for the celebration. All the fights and the injuries became in vain. I say therefore, first things first. You must secure the land first before you fight for the mat, if not, you may have the mat, but there will be no place for you to spread it. Let’s secure the voting rights first before we can worry about how it can be implemented successfully. Having said that, I also unequivocally refuse to agree that if granted the right to vote, that you and I will not be intelligent enough to develop a workable and trusted implementation system through which we can cast our votes from abroad.

For those who believe that the pursuit of this cause is a misplaced priority, I can understand where you are coming from, but is very important to understand that all issues cannot be tackled at the same time. Though this believe is fundamentally subjective, I submit that the idea of another group championing another issue, as we currently embark on this fight for our right to vote and to be voted for, are not mutually exclusive. Furthermore, I want to also submit that the rejected stone sometimes becomes the cornerstone of the building, therefore, what has been termed “misplaced priority” when achieved, might be the engine driving the achievement of other priorities. We should not miss this opportunity to finally create and become a Nigerian community in the Diaspora. It will be good for us, our children and children’s children. Go to www.ourvotecounts.org and sign the petition.

This is not solely a NIDO endeavor, but one for all of us in the Diaspora. To that end, a meeting of the leaders of the various Nigerian organizations in the USA and Canada will hold next week to further discuss this issue. Prior to this meeting, we shall publish our plan of action for all to see. You can make direct input to this plan, or go through your organization’s leader. All hands should be on the deck, so if your organization has not received correspondence from us previously, please notify us at gokoye@nidoamerica.org, or call 770-256-6663 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting FREE 770-256-6663 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Let’s remember that evil triumphs when good people remain silent. The importance of our right to vote and to be voted for cannot be overemphasized, because with our votes, we can help to shape Nigeria into the country of our desire. President Obama’s political success is a product of a voting rights struggle. If the noble men and women who championed the civil rights struggle had kept quiet and became complacent, would he have risen to where he is today? It is important to remember that some African Americans were opposed to the civil rights movement, but the brave among them refused to be short-changed. Such a struggle as we have embarked on is not for feign minded or the weak, but for the brave, the strong, the committed and the believers. Be brave, jettison your fears and support the struggle. According to MLK Jr., “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” For the children’s sake, let’s stand up for ours and their rights. Get involved, sign the petition and tell your friends about it. Go to www.ourvotecounts.org and let’s make it happen.

Chief Gabe Okoye

Chair, Petition Drive Implementation Committee

Secretary, NIDOA Board of Directors