The Plateau State Association (PSA) United States of America has written the Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to express its displeasure over what it described as the derogatory statement on Nigerians in the Diaspora by the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives and Member representing Wase Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris over his dismissal of a petition presented to the House of Representatives on behalf of other Nigerians in Diaspora.

The Association in a statement made available to this medium through its National Executive frowned at the Deputy Speaker’s refusal to accept the petition presented by Rep. Mark Terseer Gbillah Member representing Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency of Benue State on behalf of ‘Mutual Unions of Tiv in America” on the forcefull occupation of their lands by attackers and the condition of their displaced persons in the State.

The Association decried how the Deputy Speaker disclosed that Nigerians abroad have no knowledge of happenings in Nigeria and cannot make commentaries on same.

PSA says the action of the Deputy Speaker who sat in for the Speaker as uncharitable and a display of total ignorance of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which allows for dual citizenship as well as the rights and privileges of the Diaspora to call the attention of the Government on issues of common concerns.

The statement said the Deputy Speaker vilified Nigerians in the Diaspora and put to doubt their citizenship, privileges and rights as Nigerians.

The group said it is saddened if such video could emanate from the Green Chamber whose Speaker is a returnee Diaspora.

It says according to World Bank records, Nigerian Diaspora have made $23 billion year remittances and still accounts for huge Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), medical missions, community development programmes and professional skills transfers.

There requests include that the Deputy Speaker must provide a full retraction of his action, tender an apology to all Diaspora and allow Rep. Mark Gbillah to present the motion for and on behalf of ‘Mutual Unions of Tiv in America’ as a concerned group of Nigerians in Diaspora.

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Plateau State Association – USA Displeased with Hon. Idris Maje’s Statement on Nigerians in Diaspora, Writes Speaker NASS