The National Chairman of the Labour Party Julius Abure has inaugurated an 11-member Diaspora Committee to pilot the affairs of its diaspora matter.
The party chairman explained that the committee became imperative following calls to establish chapters across the country.
Abure, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja on Thursday said: “The party has enjoyed overwhelming support from Nigerians across the world and even non-Nigerians alike.
“This has resulted in a situation where there is clamour for the party to establish chapters across the world. There has also been the clamour of people who want to contribute to the growth and development of the party.
“Arising from these calls and the necessities to have this coordinated, the party has decided to put up a committee of 11 distinguished Nigerians to drive this process.”
Members of the committee are; the Chairman of the committee; Hon Chibuike Amidichi, Vice Chairman, Oseremen Omofoma, and Secretary, Jeffery Okeregbe.
Other members are; Rev. Chidi Jacobs, Chief Patrick Osagie, Marcel Ogugbeche, Andrew Edobor, Thecla Garba, Dr. Pats Obiefule, Prince Edun Ochai, and Edna Ifieagwu.
On the terms of reference, Abure said: “The committee members are expected to organise fundraising activities and donations to the party after liaising with the party.
“They are also to recommend for the national chairman, the creation of the Diaspora chapters and monitor the activities of the Diaspora chapter and report to the national chairman.
“They would also be required to facilitate travel arrangements for party officials to perform any other functions connected”
He charged them to carry out the assigned duties in good faith without fear or favour.
“We expect that you exercise good faith, you must be dutiful, patriotic in this assignment, transparent and accountable.
“The movements we are in today are not driven by any other thing. It is driven by integrity, dignity, competence and performance. And therefore all those that will be involved in this struggle in these assignments must have these virtues.
“I, therefore, want to urge you these virtues must be in your mind as you carry out these assignments”.
Responding, Amidichi said the committee will work tirelessly to reposition the party and build a new partnership with Nigerians in the Diaspora, especially in the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, and South Africa.
He also said those in the diaspora have demonstrated willingness to identify with the party and also ready to support the party and its presidential candidate.
He said: “A few months ago, they said Labour Party had no structure, but today Labour Party is not only building structures nationwide in Nigeria but also advancing its frontiers beyond the shores of Nigeria.
“This Committee will work tirelessly to reposition our great party and build new partnerships with our people in the Diaspora, especially in major countries of the world like the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, and South Africa just to mention but a few.
“I want to assure Nigerians in Diaspora that come next year 2023, Labour Party will form the new government that will midwife a new Nigeria with a man of proven integrity and competence as the President.
“We want a new Nigeria where everyone of us can be proud to call his or her own country a new Nigeria where everyone can be free and operate without any fear or favour”.
(Courtesy: The Nation)
