MARTIN LUTHER KING FAMILY VISIT TO NIGERIA: THE FACTS

PRESS  STATEMENT


MARTIN LUTHER KING FAMILY VISIT TO NIGERIA: THE FACTS


Abuja, March 29. 2018: Our attention has been drawn to obviously fake on line news reports on the visit of some members of the MLK family to Nigeria.


The members, led by the Matriarch of MLK, Naomi Barbara King, were in Nigeria as part of the activities initiated to celebrate a low- key Black History Month in Nigeria as part of deepening partnership between Africa and its Diaspora.


As part of the activities, they visited President Muhammadu Buhari and gave him a commemorative plaque for his fight against corruption and what they termed from the “ Africania Diaspora” a term for  Africans in Diaspora for which the oldest of them all Naomi Barbara King was selected to present on behalf of the family (NOT MLK CENTER) as a sign of appreciation to the Nigerian President.



It must be categorically stated here that the trip was totally privately funded and not one kobo was spent by the Nigerian government as it was all a private initiative.


However, after two days in Nigeria,  one of the members apparently granted an interview which was seen as being political , asking Nigerians to give President Muhammadu Buhari a chance to continue his good works especially of fighting corruption in Nigeria.


As a non political group , he was asked to refute the statement , which he refused to , insisting that was how he felt , and it was his personal opinion, not that of the family nor the center, of which he is a board member and was the Chief Operating Officer for over five years.


This may have led to some arguements among them , which they have said they will resolve when they get back to the US., which apparently led to the tweet being circulated

The visit to Nigeria was quite successful that they extended their stay for two major days, surprised at the negative reports on Nigeria.



Members of the public are hereby urged to please discountenance any fake news about the visit and avoid the temptation of destroying all the good things for the sake of Politics .


President Muhammadu Buhari achievements in the fight against corruption is undeterred and sacrosanct.

Signed.
Abdurrahman Balogun
S.A. Media to Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa
SSA to the President on Foreign And Diaspora.

RE: WHAT'S THE WORTH OF A NIGERIAN MIGRANTS LIFE

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa Consoles Victims Of Hurricane Harvey

PRESS STATEMENT

FG consoles with victims of US Hurricane Harvey

Abuja, Aug. 29, 2017: Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora has commiserated with victims of the recent Hurricane Harvey in Houston, USA, especially Nigerians living there.

In a statement by her Media aide, Abdurrahman Balogun, she expressed concern about the damage done to the homes of those living in that area thus rending thousands homeless.

With over four million estimated Nigerians living in the US, statistics show that Houston hosts one of the highest community of Nigerians in that country.

It must be noted that at the very least 80 per cent of Nigerians resident in places like Galveston, Cypress, Houston and the Bayou area have had their properties and personal belongings damaged.

There was a case of a rescued Nigerian from Akwa Ibom state on Monday by speed boat having lost his car, home and personal belongings

"This is to send my heartfelt concern to Nigerians living in Houston, and indeed all residents affected by Hurricane Harvey. It is really sad and disturbing".

Dabiri-Erewa, however, called on Non- Governmental Organisations, corporate bodies as well as well-endowed individuals to join in raising funds for victims of hurricane Harvey in Houston.

"We should always be our brothers keepers and lend a helping hand as we are now one big global family", Dabiri-Erewa pleaded.

She commended the efforts of the US government in giving succour to the victims of the Hurricane Harvey in Houston and pray unto God to protect those living there.

Signed.

Abdurrahman Balogun



S.A. Media to Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa Calls For Calm In India

PRESS STATEMENT

ABIKE DABIRI-EREWA CALLS FOR CALM IN INDIA ATTACKS

Following multiple distress calls by Nigerian students in India on concerns on their safety as a result of renewed attacks on them, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora has urged Nigerians in India to remain calm, be watchful of their surroundings.

Dabiri-Erewa said in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday that the renewed Tuesday attacks on Nigerian students' in India was uncalled for. While condemning the mob action as unwarranted and deplorable, the SSA noted that the Indian authorities currently have five suspects in custody.

Dabiri-Erewa noted that though the situation was calm at the moment, the Indian government has a responsibility to protect Nigerian students in India going about their normal duties. She urged the Indian government to ensure that any alleged suspect should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

She said the Chargé d'affaires in India, Amb. Mrs Queen Worlu has promptly visited the scene of the incident and also visited the three patients in hospital. According to available reports, two of the victims are two brothers, Precious and Endurance Amalawa and Chukwuma Igboamalu. Other reports have it that nine Nigerians were attacked, all students of Noida International University in India.

"I have also spoken with Mr Charles Kennedy, President of the Students' association in Greater Noida where the attacks occurred. He said though a Kenyan girl who was working alone in the early hours of today was attacked, more police patrol vehicles have been deployed to all areas.” He confirmed that the situation is calm and is pleased with the prompt actions of the Nigerian Chargé d'affaires in India and the Indian government so far.

She noted the steps taken so far by India government which includes patrol of the area and immediate arrest of suspected culprits with more arrests likely. Dabiri-Erewa, however, prayed for the quick recovery of the three in the hospital in India.



Signed.


Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora.

VIDEO: Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa's interview on BBC's Focus on Africa TV.

(Wednesday 22nd February, 2017)

The Senior Special Adviser to the president, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa's interview on BBC's Focus on Africa TV. She addressed matters arising concerning Nigerians in diaspora.

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Abike Dabiri-Erewa calls on AU to call SA to order on xenophobic attacks

PRESS STATEMENT

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora has called on the South African government to take decisive and definitive measures to protect Nigerian citizens and other Africans within South African borders.

She equally called on the African Union to intervene urgently in the renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the attacks as an unnecessary setback.

The Nigerian Community in South Africa led by Mr Ikechukwu Anyene confirmed the attacks and looting of Nigerian-owned businesses in Pretoria West on Saturday.

Anyene said that the union had reported the incident to the Nigeria mission and South African police.

“As we speak, five buildings with Nigerian businesses, including a church have been looted and burned by South Africans", Anyene said.

The SSA, however,urged restraint on the part of Nigerians and warned that further attacks without any reprimand may have dire consequences.

Dabiri-Erewa said the attention of the AU was being called to intervene because information had it that there will be another xenophobic attacks against foreigners on Feb. 22 and Feb. 23.

“These attacks should not be allowed to continue because it is a big setback,” she said.

It will be recalled that Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa had two weeks ago met with South African High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr Lulu Aaron-Mnguni on the killing of Nigerians in South Africa.

Mr Aaron-Mnguni then promised that the South African government was investigating the matter.

``We have lost about 116 Nigerians in the last two years. And in 2016 alone, about 20 were killed’’, this is unacceptable to the people and Government of Nigeria, Dabiri-Erewa said.

Signed

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa

SSA to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora

Statement On Recovered Stolen Nigerian Assets

                                                     

                                                       PRESS STATEMENT
LEND YOUR VOICE TO UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF RECOVERED STOLEN ASSETS, DABIRI-EREWA, SAGAY APPEALS TO NIGERIANS
Nigerians both home and abroad have been called upon to join the crusade for the unconditional and immediate release of recovered stolen assets of Nigeria stashed abroad.
This was the call made by the duo of Prof. Itse Sagay, Chairman Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) and Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora at a joint press conference in Abuja.

``This is the time for Nigerians in the Diaspora and every friend of Nigeria to get involved in the advocacy to recover stolen assets, not just in words, but in deed. We need no apologies from recipients of stolen assets. Our demand is the unconditional return of our stolen national patrimony’’, Sagay said.
Sagay assured the western world that Nigeria as a nation has put in place transparent and credible mechanisms to ensure that returned assets are used for the welfare of the people and the victims of the crime of corruption.
He said the timing could not be more appropriate than now as the nation struggles with recession, reduced income from petroleum products, restiveness in South East and South-South and remnants of insurgency in North East with millions of internally displaced persons representing the victims of corruption. ``Any return will go a long way in helping Nigeria resolve the mirage of challenges it is confronted with’’, ``Funds returned for instance can be used to construct roads; build schools, improve education; stimulate the economy, build industries to create jobs; provide quality and affordable health-care; guarantee security of lives and property through proper funding of security agencies’’, he added.

Using the World Bank estimates, Sagay said that one-third of funds allegedly stolen between 2006 and 2013 could have been used to provide 635.18 kilometers of roads; build 36 ultra-modern hospitals across the country; build 183 schools; educate 3,974 children from primary to tertiary level at 25.24 million per child; build 20,062 units of 2-bedroom houses, among many others.
``Between 1960 and 1999 when the country returned to democratic rule for instance, over $400 billion was stolen by corrupt public officers and laundered outside the country while recent revelations showed that between 2006 and 2013, 55 persons allegedly stole or diverted over N1.34tr from public coffers’’, he revealed.
Sagay said a large part of the stolen funds are stashed away in countries like Switzerland, the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, among others.
Despite the efforts and achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari in fighting corruption and recovered all the stolen money, some countries have refused to implement the asset return component of United Nations Conventions Against Corruption (UNCAC).
“Nigeria presently stands to lose another 550 million dollars recovered from the Abacha’s family to the U.S. contrary to the earlier promise by the U.S. to return same to Nigeria,” he said.
Sagay said the amount represented a separate tranche from the earlier 480 million dollars forfeited to the U.S. following a court judgment in August 2014.
Speaking in the same vein, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa decried the uncooperative attitude of the countries where the stolen funds were being stashed.
“America has over 400million dollars that have been officially recovered as stolen funds from Nigeria.
“But America is keeping the funds, they are telling us about technicalities, they are saying we recovered doesn’t mean we can return.
“We want every Nigerian in Diaspora, friends of Nigeria, to join this committee in demanding that every Nigeria’s stolen fund recovered in any part of the world should be returned to Nigeria,” She said.
According to her, the person who steals is just as guilty as the person who keeps stolen funds.
The trio of the chairman of ICPC, Barr. Ekpo Nta, DG National Orientation Agency, Dr Garba Abari and the Executive secretary of PACAC. Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye also decried the stringent conditions for repatriation being given by the western countries.
``We will join the committee to embark on an advocacy with Nigerians abroad to appeal to these nations to do everything possible to return what belongs to Nigeria,” they said. 

Abdur-Rahman Balogun


S.A. Media to Hon. Abike Dabiri