Why Nigerians in Diaspora can’t vote now, by Buhari

By Olumide Olaoluwa
President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that Nigerians in Diaspora would still have to wait for sometimes before they can vote in elections in the country.
Stressing that a lot of logistics need to be put in place first, he said that absentee voting was in Nigeria’s future.
He spoke at the 2015 Diaspora Day at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja with the theme: “Diaspora and Nigeria Change Agenda.”
Buhari, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said that legislation, huge finance, and confidence in the electoral system were required before Diaspora voting can commence.
He said: “We are also aware of the importance of voting rights of Nigerians abroad. But to achieve this, the National Assembly will have to legislate. Diaspora voting is in Nigeria’s future.
“Because obviously there is a lot to be done, including building confidence in the Nigerian electoral process.
The skills and planning required in planning a number of national elections in an atmosphere of continued suspicion of each party is a major challenge by itself.”
According to him, his administration was building a new Nigeria that requires the support and participation of all, including Nigerians in Diaspora.
The President said that government’s intervention would come in the provision of physical and economic infrastructure and social policies that provide opportunity and succour for the 110 million extremely poor Nigerians in the country.

Read also: FG withdraws diplomatic passports from unauthorised persons

He said the administration was targeting consistent generation of 5,000 MW of power daily by early 2016, describing it as a modest target from what was already available.
The President also said that efforts were on to complete a variety of outstanding power-related projects to lay the foundation for 10,000MW and 15,000 MW subsequently.
Buhari said that government was pursuing a long overdue reform in the hydrocarbon industry and reorganizing the NNPC and holding the officials accountable for past revenue losses.

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