President Muhammadu Buhari asked Nigerians living in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday to support President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he takes office on May 29.
Gatekeepers News reports that this was disclosed in a statement released by the the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity,Garba Shehu.
He noted that President Buhari made the request during a Town Hall meeting with Nigerians in Qatar on Tuesday.
President Buhari said that his government was working to organise credible, open, and fair elections. The governorship and State Assembly elections on March 11 will be the last part of this process.
He asked them to “support the incoming government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, so that Nigeria will continue to be the beacon of hope and prosperity in our continent and an example for other African countries to emulate.”
The President also said that Nigerians in the Diaspora all over the world have been playing important roles in the development of Nigeria. He said that his government had approved a National Diaspora Policy and helped the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) develop programmes to involve Nigerians in the Diaspora so that they can do their part for the development of their home country.
In his speech, the Nigerian Ambassador to the State of Qatar, Yakubu Ahmed, praised President Buhari for holding successful elections for the President and National Assembly on February 25, 2023. He said that the process has shown that Nigeria’s democracy is strong, and he prayed that Governor and State Assembly elections would also go well.
Ambassador Ahmed told the President that Nigeria and the State of Qatar have had a good relationship since they started having diplomatic ties in 2013. He also told the President that there are about 7,000 Nigerians living and working in Qatar right now.
“I’m proud to inform you, Your Excellency, that majority of our nationals in Doha are professionals, who have excelled in their chosen careers, playing critical roles in healthcare, safety, oil and gas, aviation, construction, among other sectors,” he added.
Dr Arabo Ibrahim, a Senior Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, spoke on behalf of the Nigerian community in the country. He said he had every reason to thank the President, especially for bringing peace back to the Northeastern part of Nigeria.
“Our people were chased out of Mubi in Adamawa State by Boko Haran terrorists, peace is back. Now we go there and sleep peacefully. There is a lot of food now. People from the neighbouring countries even come to buy food in Nigeria,” he added.
Professor Akintunde Akinade, another member of the community, also thanked President Buhari for running an election process that has been called “one of the best. We have gone through elections many times before, and we all know what it’s all about.
“This is an election where money has taken a back seat. We’re very grateful to see what has happened this time in the presidential election. Thank you for bringing sanity to the country and the electoral process. We wish that this would continue.”
He also praised the President for changing the way the country’s infrastructure works, fighting corruption, keeping Nigeria together, and his well-known fight for democracy in Africa.
“I really want to thank you for your unwavering critique of African Presidents that really want to stay in office forever. I wish you a well-deserved rest,” he added.
Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa, the chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), put the event together.
