Nigerians Abroad are Nigerians first published February 23rd, 2010

Nigerians abroad should not be referred to by any other name other than Nigerians abroad.  It is political pollution internationally among our race of human kind, and economically and sociologically, it is unwise for Nigerians anywhere to call Nigerians abroad, “Nigerians in the Diaspora.”  Many a time, I even hear some Nigerians abroad referring to themselves, as “Nigerian Diasporas” just because Nigerians at home now call them by a name to which they should not answer.  It sounds ridiculous.  Nigerians abroad should not and cannot assume any other appellation or be given another name just because they are living abroad unless Nigeria is willing to disown its own sons and daughters and their grandchildren abroad; all should be Nigerians abroad. 

The word “Diaspora” has its unique meaning and origins.  Without prejudice to any one, it is a word Africans now use to refer to other Africans who found themselves domiciled in other lands due in large part to an historical accident and are unable to trace their original ancestral homeland.  The word was used earlier only to refer to the Jews who were scattered in colonies outside  Palestine after the Babylonia exile, but the origins of the word is found in the Septuagint translation of Deuteronomy, 27:37 and, has also its ancient religious eschatology, meaning that it relates to a branch of theology that teaches dogmas which relates to the study or science dealing with the ultimate destiny or purpose of and philosophical-political connotation, (See Omoh Tsatsaku Ojior, “Africa and Africans in the Diaspora” 1996, pp. 1- 2).  The writing of the book under reference began in 1974 while in Los Angles, California and was completed in Nigeria.  The poll conducted about the word “Diaspora,” its concept and uses, at the University of Benin during the writing of the book, shows that even within an enlightened university community, many Nigerians did not either know or understand the meaning of the word.  It was at the Colloquium of the 2^nd World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture FESTAC 77, in Lagos during Obasanjo’s first regime in Nigeria, those African intellectuals expanded the use and related the word “Diaspora” and applied it to Black Africans who were former slaves, but are living as free men and women all over the world today.  This was an acceptance that Blacks all over the world are Africans. Clearly, Africans in the Diaspora is well defined in the book referred above.  Unfortunately, our manuscript laid in the shelve of a reputable publisher in Benin for many years unpublished; it was found publishable after having been referred, but it was not published due in-part to an unprogressive mentality, and the fact that the concept was not quite understood at the time as shown in the poll.  The book was finally published in 1996 in the US.

Unfortunately too, it was the unscientific and philosophical use of the English language and the un-socio-scientific way of language construction amongst some Nigerians in the US that brought about the name “Nigerian Diasporan Organization, NIDO” at Washington, D.C. in 2001.  The organization has now spread to Europe, North America, and else where.  Mr. Joe Keshi, the Nigerian Consul General in Atlanta at the time must be credited for the success of Nigerians coming together in the US under the umbrella of the “NIDO.”  However, greater credit goes to the President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who called for the recognition and utilization of the great energies of Nigerians overseas, in the United States, Europe, North and South America and all over the world. He is the first among Nigerian rulers before him to accord importance and recognition of the high potential of Nigerians abroad.  Having become an eminent person within the international community before his second coming as President of Nigeria he saw the benefits of Nigerians abroad to Nigeria.  I was one of the pioneers who organized the Obasanjo’s ever first Nigerian Presidential Dialogue with Nigerians in the United States of America which gave rise to the coming together of Nigerians abroad for the progressive development of Nigeria. 

The origin of “Diaspora Nigerians” as a name for Nigerians abroad stem from the name some Nigerians chose at the Washington, D. C. meeting for the new organization. I recall that during the collation of the Report of the Dialogue in Atlanta after the event, some Nigerians at that meeting were opposed to the idea of an “Introduction” in the first opening Paper of the document to be presented to government even though there was an appropriate paper that serves rightly the purpose.  This was due in large part to these Nigerians’ un-socio-scientific, materialistic and mechanic way of reasoning. They just wanted the committees’ papers to be bound up together in the order of their personal preference even though it was wrong and inappropriate.  They said that there was no need for an “Introduction” to the exercise; it was Hon. Keshi who saved the day.  He advised the group to use Dr. Ojior’s Political Committee’s paper which was on Sustenance of Democracy in Nigeria because it introduced the reason for the presidential dialogue in its preamble.  The Report was produced, but where credit was being given to the coordinators’ of the Dialogue, the name Ojior was accorded the title “Mr.” Every members involved in the project was aware that Ojior has a “Ph.D.” and an academic rank of an Associate Professor of Political Science.  These groups of persons and their likes in Nigeria are unaware that the understanding of sociology and the socio-scientific reasoning, most of the time is the result of a metaphysical appreciation of the human spirit within the human societies.

With the same mode of reasoning at that meeting, coordinators of the Presidential Dialogue were dragged to Washington, D. C. from Atlanta by the then Nigerian Ambassador to the US.  Reports had it that at the Washington meeting was a conflict between the conscious socio-scientific minded Nigerians and the mechanistic minded officials at the meeting.  The name “Nigerian Diaspora Organization” (NIDO) came out this meeting, and it became popularized since then as the name for Nigerians abroad. To my knowledge, some other decisions at the meeting, to a large extent could be responsible for many Nigerians abroad not being a part of “NIDO” today.  For example, the name which the acronym “NIDO” represents is rather unpalatable in meaning, in content and unrepresentative of Nigerians abroad.  It was unfortunate, I was not at the meeting to lend  support which one is here doing as a way of rectifying by calling attention to a wrong act committed against a very large population of the Nigerians abroad by extension, Nigeria as a nation.  There are better names that serve the purpose and under which Nigerians abroad may operate anywhere in the interest of Nigeria.  Names such as “Organization of Nigerians Abroad,” ONA, “Association of Nigerians Abroad,” ANA, “National Conference of Nigerians Abroad,” or Congress or Conference of Nigerian Citizens Abroad,” CNCA, to mention, but these few could have been suggested.  If one of these here suggested names was adopted, it would have serve Nigeria and Nigerians well.  The philosophy and psychological impact of, as well as the moral implication including the meaning of a name are all important to be considered in the giving of names, especially as Africans.  Names are symbols as well as identity.

To be calling Nigerians abroad, “Diaspora Nigerians” or “Nigerians in Diaspora” is one way to disown the Nigerians abroad morally, and politically as citizens of Nigeria which directly is antagonistic to Sections 25 (1) (a) and 28 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. Most of the Nigerians abroad, if not all of them were either born in Nigeria or have parents and grandparents who were Nigerians by birth. Without any doubt or equivocation in my mind, Nigerians are outside the scope of the definition and concept of the words “Diaspora and Diasporans.”

Declaratively in contest, Nigerians abroad are Nigerians, therefore, Nigeria: we are Nigerians abroad and we are your children;

Nigeria, do not abdicate your responsibility over us and to us, we are Nigerians abroad, we are your children; There is nothing diasporan about Nigerians abroad, we are Nigerians, we are your children;

Nigeria we know the ways to our various homes because we were born there, we are Nigerians abroad, we are your children;

We come home as often as we can because in Nigeria we have our roots, we are Nigerians abroad, we are your children;

Children are blessings and not a curse to parents, Nigeria, we are your children;

As children are investment to an African family, so is a population to a nation and a country, we are Nigerians abroad, we are your children;

Disown us not due to political ineptitude for we are your God given wealth: Nigeria, we are Nigerians abroad we are your children;

Nigerians abroad accepting citizenships from countries where they live is a symbol of their political maturity and understanding to the benefits of Nigeria, we are Nigerians abroad, we are your children;

Nigerians abroad are on various missions in the hopes that their successes will better Nigeria and Nigerians, therefore, we are Nigerians abroad we are your children;

Many left Nigeria in search of the Golden Fleece, we are Nigerians abroad we are your children;

Many of these Nigerians abroad are renowned intellectuals, esoteric and exoteric searching for international honours on behalf of their country, Nigeria, we are Nigerians abroad we are your children;

Some left Nigeria running for the protection of dear life during the senseless military interregnums lasting for over 30 years, we are Nigerians abroad, we are your children;

The military’s misadventure was senseless because Nigeria at the time was like a child who must learn to walk before the child is able to stand firmly, but the military crassly and uncannily interrupted rudely the orderly growth of Nigeria, Nigeria, we are your children;

Many of the Nigerians abroad traveled out of Nigeria with the country’s Passport holding their identity in-tack, they are Nigerians abroad, and therefore they are your children;

Some left Nigeria searching for economic opportunities, yet we are Nigerians abroad and we are your children;

Many are travelers and adventurers: Nigeria, we are Nigerians abroad, we are your children;

Few may be outlawed and scammers although not condoned, yet they are not alone and not the first nor will they be the last in the game, they are Nigerians abroad, they are your children;

Where ever we are in the world outside Nigeria, we are known and recognized as Nigerians by our hosts, therefore, we are Nigerians abroad we are your children;

Nigerians abroad are not Diaspora Nigerians or Diasporans, we are Nigerians abroad, and we are your children;

Nigerians in Europe, America and Asia, we are Nigerians abroad; in China, Japan and the Orient, we are Nigerians abroad; in South and North America, Nigeria we are Nigerians abroad, we are your children;

Nigerians all over the world, we are Nigerians abroad;

Nigeria, pray for your sons, daughters and grandchildren where ever they may be as they pray for your survival as their nation, Nigeria, we are your children;

Nigeria and Nigerians must reconsider their attitude and behaviors toward the Nigerians abroad including the re-evaluation of their enormous potential for the nation, we are your children;  

Discriminate not and envy not these equally patriotic Nigerians, many will prove their worth because they are Nigerians abroad, and they are your children’

And Nigerians abroad must re-educate themselves to increase the awareness of self consciousness and the lack of it;

Self consciousness is a key attribute for success in our contemporary global political community, Nigeria, we are Nigerians abroad, and we are your children.