FEATURE ARTICLE

Hon. Chudi OkaforMonday, November 5, 2007

USA

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Forwarded by: Dr. FEMI AJAYI

A NATION WITH ONE DESTINY

Welcome address by the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Atlanta, Georgia, Hon. Chudi Okafor, on the occasion of the All Niger Delta Peoples' Conference, Houston, Texas, October 18 - 20, 2007.


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n behalf of the Nigerians in the Americas, and in particular our compatriots in the State of Texas, I am deeply pleased and honored to welcome H. E. (Dr) Goodluck Jonathan, GCON, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and his distinguished delegation to Houston. This visit marks a watershed event in the annals of our national history, because it is the first time an opportunity is being given to Nigerians at this level to make their inputs with a view to finding solutions to the Niger-Delta problem. Clearly, that H.E. the Vice President graciously accepted your invitation to be here physically, in spite of his very busy schedule, means what it says. That is, that you are not only important stakeholders, but also that Nigerians would like to drink from your fountain of knowledge, benefit from your huge experiences, entrepreneurial skills, competences and industrial discipline, from the most technologically developed region of the world.

2. Since the inception of the new Administration in Nigeria, under the able leadership of H.E, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, GCFR, supported by an untiring Vice President, who is here with us today, the problem in the Niger-Delta more than any other challenge has demanded serious attention. It has risen into a topical issue of strategic importance for our co-existence as a nation under God. It is also right to say that the new Administration has from the outset made the resolution of the Niger Delta problem a strategic priority policy. In this connection, it has endorsed the 15 year Master Plan of the last Administration as the final solution to the problem. This plan was borne out of Government's conviction that a faithful implementation of the provisions of the Master Plan would transform and restore peace and stability to the region.

3. Furthermore, it is gratifying that the new Administration is using every available resource and avenue to address the problem in a spirit of understanding, mutual respect, fairness, justice and cooperation. This, to my mind precisely explains the involvement of Nigerians in the Diaspora as genuine stakeholders in finding a solution to the Niger-Delta problem. It is also plain truth to say that H.E. the Vice President has at great cost, through thick and thin, given his all to bring peace and harmony to the Niger Delta. We cannot thank the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria enough for this milk of human kindness and spirit of inclusiveness in resolving our national problems through a common basket of inputs.

4. On your part, Nigerians in the Diaspora have a duty to bring evidence of development to bear in the changing landscape of the Niger-Delta now and forever. Nigeria wants to see the Dubai Skyline in the United Arab Emirates, the Houston Skyline in the United States of America, and the Sarawak and Sabbah Skylines in Malaysia, in the Niger-Delta region. You can make this happen by investing in the Niger-Delta and by bringing your American friends along to invest. Nigeria wants you and your American partners to connect and convene Annual Science and Technology Conferences on Oil and Gas in the Niger-Delta region, to impart capacity- building and to ensure that the United States oil majors take seriously the moral obligation of corporate social responsibility, as they do in other parts of the world.

5. This is your chance to be active participants in realizing Government's 7 point agenda for a fundamental transformation in our dear Country. This is your chance to propel Nigeria as one of the largest 20th growing economies in the world by the year 2020. As you are no doubt aware, one of the greatest economic miracles of this millennium is the unstoppable emergence of a few developing countries, in particular, China and India, in the global marketplace. This was largely as a result of the role of their nationals' resident in the West especially in North America. It is needless to catalogue the role of the American Jews, economically and technologically speaking, in the state of Israel of today. Nigeria cannot expect less from you; more so, you are in a country that enjoins you to ask what you can do for your country.

6. Finally, it is important for us in the Diaspora to realize that as a nation with one destiny:

an educated Niger- Delta child is an educated Nigerian child,
an employed Niger-Delta child is an employed Nigerian child,
a happy Niger-Delta person is a happy Nigerian person,
a peaceful Niger-Delta region is a peaceful Nigerian region, and
an industrialized Niger Delta region is an industrialized Nigerian region.

7. Without doubt a safe, clean and environmentally-friendly Niger-Delta region would be a safe, clean and vibrant place for both Nigerians and foreigners to work and live in.

8. Please let us cooperate with the well-meaning efforts of the government in resolving our common problem in the Niger-Delta for the benefit of all and our future generations.

9. I wish you fruitful deliberations.

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