“The government is doing everything in her power to stem the security threat of Boko Haram.” These were the words of the Nigerian High Commissioner to UK in Edinburgh on Thursday 19 April 2012 at the Scotsman Hotel in a Town hall meeting with Nigerians. He said Boko Haram was about some people in the country orchestrating terrorism to show that the government of the day cannot protect her citizens ,and that it is not about religion or ethnicity. He promised that Boko Haram will be defeated and that every country has its own challenge .He pointed to the UK ,where as recent as a decade back the IRA was bombing locations round the country. “Give us time”, he pleaded.
Tafida warned that Nigerians must remain positive about their country and never pull her down.
Earlier in his welcome address on behalf of the Nigerianc ommunity ,Mr Daniel Onifade called on the government to make good her pledge to open a Consulate in Edinburgh and improve her services to Nigerians in that part of the country. While acknowledging that there have been improvements over the past four year since Tafida assume office, he asked the High Commission to pursue a scheme to make provision for an accurate data of Nigerians in the UK in order to be able to plan for an effective consular service to them. Onifade reminded the High Commissioner of the desire of Nigerians in diaspora to vote in future elections.
In his response, Tafida said the Federal Government was committed to serving Nigerians in Scotland and pledged that a Consulate will be opened before the end of the year or early 2013. He said government share the aspiration of diasporans to participate in elections and that a bill to that effect is in the House.
In his vote of thanks, Mr Evong Evong, President of Inspire Nigeria commended the High Commissioner for the improvement he has brought to bear over the past four years. He recalled the different meetings InspireNigeria held with the High Commissioner over the issue of a Consulate in Scotland and said the Commission kept faith in her pledge to the organisationin in 2010 to run mobile consular services in Scotland. Given such a track record,he said, he has no doubt the Consulate will be commissioned in Edinburgh before the end of the first quarter of 2013. Mr Evong called on Nigerians in Scotland to rally round Inspire Nigeria and other Nigerian organisations, including NIDO to contribute their quarter to the development of Nigeria and create a sense ofcommunity in their new abode.
The event which was attended by Nigerians from all walks of life saw Nigerians discussing the state of the Nigerian nation in a frank manner with the High Commissioner who did not disappoint with his great sense of humour and deep knowledge of current issues at home.
Evong, E.S.B.
www.esbevong.com
www.datagridcommunications.com
