Anti Boko Haram demonstrators at the event.
By Agamnetochi Onoh
An advocacy group of Nigerian-Americans, the New Generation Nigeria (NGN), has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the success of the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda, which it said was steadily laying the foundation for a New Nigeria in which no one is left out.
The advocacy group leading a large number of Nigerians living in the New York area and adjoining states staged an anti-Boko Haram rally in front of the Nigeria House in New York on 24th September, expressing solidarity with the Federal Government.
The rally, attracted Diaspora Nigerian professionals, academics, students, women and civil society groups as well as everyday Nigerians living within the catchment area with the participants displaying several banners and placards with different inscriptions to convey their disgust with Boko Haram violence in Nigeria, while applauding the success of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda and measures adopted to restore peace in the country.
Adorning T-shirts and face caps in the green-white-green Nigerian colours, the protesters who were cordoned off the road by the New York Police Department (NYPD) carried inscriptions reading: “Nigerians Say No to Terrorism” and “Support Nigeria Fight Terrorism”.
The banners and placards also conveyed the following messages: “Nigeria Contained Ebola, Nigeria Will Contain Terrorism”; “Nigeria United for Peace and Security”; “Boko Haram Stop Killing Nigerians”; “Boko Haram, Enough is Enough”; “Nigerians Rally against Terrorism”; “Boko Haram, Release Chibok Girls”; “ “Mr President, New Generation Nigeria Appreciates You”; and “Support Nigeria Fight Terrorism”.
Excited at what she saw Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala asked THISDAY where the protesters stood seeing the vibrancy and large crowd presence of the participants who chanted and sang songs asking Boko Haram to leave the Chibok girls alone.
Reminded the protesters were showing solidarity with government on its efforts at eradicating terrorism about the same time Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Barack Obama and other world leaders were discussing the issue of terrorism at the Security Council, Okonjo-Iweala followed up her questions asking the correspondent if the other group was also protesting to which she got a negative response.
Also, an investment group, the African-American Investment Partners has said it is ready to use its resources, intellectual property and expertise to help drive investment and boost the country’s economy.
The investment partners who met at the Waldorf Astoria last Wednesday said in spite of the President’s absence at the dinner organised to welcome him and express its readiness to bring its investment and expertise to the country, they were ready to pull their resources together to assist the country in the area of infrastructures.
Chairman of the Georgetown Oil Limited, Hugh W. Bobbitt and coordinator Franklin Ekechukwu told THISDAY the group had concluded plans to donate money to develop Nigeria if the Federal Government could give them the opportunity.
Chairman of the Georgetown Oil Limited, Hugh W. Bobbitt and coordinator Franklin Ekechukwu told THISDAY the group had concluded plans to donate money to develop Nigeria if the Federal Government could give them the opportunity.
But the advocacy group which held what is considered one of the most successful rallies so far to support the government’s efforts at rescuing the kidnapped Chibok girls, said it was impressed at President Jonathan’s leadership efforts, which it said has brought a great sense of belonging and hope to the ordinary Nigerian.
The letter also acknowledged the success of the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda, which it said was steadily laying the foundation for a New Nigeria in which no one is left out.
According to the rally coordinator Innocent Okemezie, “democracy is taking firm roots, while Nigeria’s economy has risen to become the largest in Africa and the 26th in the World”.
The letter urged world leaders gathered in New York for the 69th Session of UNGA, particularly the United States and her western allies, to support with greater vigour the efforts of the Government of Nigeria in stamping out terrorist activities in the country, expressing the hope that discussions at the United Nations would show positive disposition towards the situation in Nigeria.
Bobbitt added that his organisation was ready to support Nigeria in all areas insisting he was eager to meet the president to express his interest in helping the Nigerian government in its efforts to boost the economy.
Bobbitt who said the group was non-political added the passion to move the country to the next investment level of industrialisation was the motivating force that brought the investment partners together. Nigeria”.
President of Nigeria First Organization (NFO), Mr. Franklin Ekechukwu who is also the Managing partner of the group said although there was high expectation that President Jonathan was coming to address the dinner participants, his presence at the UN campaigning for the eradication of the Boko Haram terrorists was commendable and a plus for the evolution of the right investment climate in the country
Ekechukwu sasid the partnership was determined to visit Nigeria at a yet undisclosed date in its drive to make its point and partner with Nigerian investors.
and address challenges facing the investment climate in the country.
“We are together today to tell the whole world that we are determined to work with Nigerian government to better the lots of people.
“In the area of poor electricity challenge facing the country, we will tackle it only if the Federal Government of Nigeria can give us go ahead. We have capable investors here who have shown interest to donate huge money to address some of the challenges facing Nigerian government.
He continued: “We want to prove a point to the Presidency that there are Nigerians that can bring quality investors to invest in the country.
“Most of the investors here contributed to President Barrack Obama Power Energy. I have somebody who can donate $2billion or more than to boost electricity supply in Nigeria, but unfortunately because of the United Nations event, the president was unable to see him.
“We also have a group here, NYSSA who are purely white people and they are ready to donate money to Nigeria. I think new thing has begun to happen in.”
“We are together today to tell the whole world that we are determined to work with Nigerian government to better the lots of people.
“In the area of poor electricity challenge facing the country, we will tackle it only if the Federal Government of Nigeria can give us go ahead. We have capable investors here who have shown interest to donate huge money to address some of the challenges facing Nigerian government.
He continued: “We want to prove a point to the Presidency that there are Nigerians that can bring quality investors to invest in the country.
“Most of the investors here contributed to President Barrack Obama Power Energy. I have somebody who can donate $2billion or more than to boost electricity supply in Nigeria, but unfortunately because of the United Nations event, the president was unable to see him.
“We also have a group here, NYSSA who are purely white people and they are ready to donate money to Nigeria. I think new thing has begun to happen in.”
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