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January 25, 2005
Open Letter to Obasanjo: President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
To the President, His Excellency, Chief Mathew Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Mr.President Sir,
I want to draw your attention to what is happennings to Nigerians in China PR. (Nigerians in Diaspora). As a Citizen and full blooded Nigerian, I watched in utmost dismay our Citizens being treated like people that have no country, hope or future.
Mr.President,I am very proud to be a Nigerian. The country of the Golden Eaglet, Flying Eagles, and Supper Eagles. The birth place of the likes of Dick Tiger, Hogan Kid Bassey, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Prof. Chinua Echebe,and host of other intellectual and learned men and women. I can't denounce my God given country because of anything rather I will help in whatever little means or contribution that I can to salvage it.
Although it is our country that is corrupt, ordinary citizens are the worst hit simply because foreigners are constantly assessing ordinary citizens as corrupt. No one will leave his farmland beacuse of its overgrowth. Since you are the President of this great nation, the most populous black to the suffering of your people, your children, and your brothers and sisters are going through in the name of renewing of visas.
I read on the Internet about the oil blocks Nigeria signed to the Chinese Government and the Diplomatic ties Nigeria renewed with China. I learnt of the Memorandum Of Understanding they signed with each other, the Railways, Communication, and others contracts Nigerian Government awarded to China. I said yes! at least with these things, their mind will be soft on us. I did know that it will be the beginning of our troubles.
Chinese community in Lagos, Nigeria are living very fine without molestation or anything like that. Their visas are renewed without any problem but right here in their country, it's a different story. Our green booklet (passport) are regarded as garbage in their immigration office and by their agents. They had refused us many things. You will have your money to renew your document with the whopping amount they always ask for, and still, they reject it, causing it to expire so that they will reduce you to illegal to illegal person status and treat you as such.
We are the third largest country in buying of Chinese goods, thereby giving Chinese government revenue in terms of Commerce and Industry,(Business). Their goods and commodities are scattered allover Nigeria. Even those they refused their renewal of their visas are their doing business with them, which they send to Nigeria. Why then have they stuck to their guns in causing Nigerians to rot as illegals in China?
The coming of their number one citizen to Nigeria gave hope to Nigerians living in this country. But, nothing happened after that. Are we to suffer the sins of our leaders, if there's any at all.
Mr.President sir, I am appealing to you on behalf of the entire citizens of Nigeria living in China to use your good offices to intervene in our plight and come to the rescue of Nigerian citizens. Nigerians are everywhere in the world as other nationalities are Nigeria going about their businesses. We ask for equal treatment by Chinese authorities.
In conclussion Sir, we will very much appreciate if any misunderstanding between Nigeria and China shall be resolve and settled so that we the poor and ordinary citizens will benefit from the good relationship that will between Nigeria and China. We need the quick and immediate renewal of our papers by Chinese Immigration authorities.
Long live Mr.President,
Long live Nigerians
Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Ekechukwu "Tiger" Ogbah
Writes from China
Posted by Administrator at January 25, 2005 07:27 AM
Comments
It is time for Nigeria to wake up from sleep. Nigerian crying from China, and from all over the world. The solution is not a dialog between Nigeria and other Countries, but the leaders of Nigeria to change their idea and concept of the word "POLITICS". In Nigerian dictionary, Politics mean Looting and sharing of Our Resources as one deems fit.
If for example, the money looted out of the Country within a period of one year, is enough for investment that will provide employment for those suffering in China.
If the presidency is clear of the Crime, he should adopt the bold step taken by the Present Inspector general of Police, ie open and televised trial for every person involved in looting of govt. money, bribery, or corruption in high offices. In other hand, avoid back-door settlement.
We Nigerians are suffering all over the world. Help us to come home and be proud of our country.
ROBERT ONONIWU
Madrid, Spain.
Posted by: ROBERT ONONIWU at February 3, 2005 11:59 PM
Dear Nigerians abroad, i strongly appreacite your courage and endurance living abroad with all the way we are being treated like shits and destitutes abroad! One fact i want u to understand is that we are being treated this way cos of our leaders on one hand and we Nigerians on the other hand.
Our past and present government as sold us into slavery in the hands of overseas govevernment and authourities cos our lovely motherland as become a place of discomfort for we Nigerians , a situation where there's no job oppurtunities and live becomes hard for an average man to live and the son of man thinks living abroad could be a better choice and finally after being bullshit and molested by visa authorities in our own motherland then we face another second round in the country we hope to find comfort and peace.
Visa extention, resident permit and so on becomes hell for u to get once u say you are Nigerian then the story chances My God is this a second slavery abroad! I hope the Nigerian Government should please find a way asap to solve this unbearable stuation for nigerains abroad especially in china. And we want you our goverment to know there's no place like home please do something about our economy so we can come back gome and be proud of our motherland.
On the second hand, i.e to talk about we citizens living abroad let try to remember who we are and where we come from . We should not live in desperation and in serious want that we go to the extent of commiting crimes that are aborminative, No matter what the situation is like plz let's work hard and believe in God . there's always light at the end of the tunnel.
Long Live nigeria
Long live FRN
Akeem
Sichuan china
Posted by: Akeem at March 13, 2005 11:37 AM
I've read through all the complaints laid down by my fellow country men and i want to beleive that's exactly the true picture of what's happening in China and other countries to Nigerians in Diaspora.
I want to beleive that it wasn't like this before.It was basically due to our fellow brothers committing mind boggling and heinous crimes in China and all around the world that instigated this maltreatment.
If you remember some years back,we don't need visa to some western countries but as lots and lots of crimes are been perpetrated by Nigerians,this countries has no other options but to permanently close thier borders to Nigerians.
Notwithstanding,the Chinese Govt should try to be contsructive in the way they deal with problems.They should devise ways in which any foreign national having problems with the Govt should be deal with individually.
I know for sure that if there are no any accomplices in crime,there will surely be no culprits.
I want to beleive you guys in this forum are good ambassadors of Nigeria in your own capabilities and i'm kinda sure you guys will either be experienced teachers or honest and easy going businessmen.But don't forget some of our guys come to China for no purpose and when they can't find their levels,they may venture into some other funny ways just to make ends meet.
Lets have a Nigerian forum(online) in China and address/re-dress the few no-mission guys and let's move forward.
China is a big country with lots of opprtunities in the years to come.Chinese people so far so good have not been hostile to foreigners though some of them are.
Lets call all Nigerians in China to order and make this foreign country a safe haven for all and sundries then both Nigerian and Chinese Govt may come to our aid as regards our status in China.
Long live Nigeria.Long live China.
So long my guys.Cheerio.
Larry,Liaoning,China.
Posted by: Lere at July 6, 2005 05:21 AM
