2007: 'Nigerians in Diaspora key to national rebirth'

Restoration Group leader, Prof. Pat Utomi yesterday said the Nigerians in Diaspora had significant roles to play in actualising rapid economic development and the total rebirth of their fatherland.

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Speaking at a Town Hall meeting in Miami, the United States, Utomi noted that he was traveling as part of consultations prior to the formal kick off of his campaign for the presidency in the 2007 elections.

He  said he wanted the Diaspora to buy into his vision of a new Nigeria as their role in implementing a rapid kick-off of the National transformation agenda and blueprints after his election was critical and crucial.

He told his audience that the Restoration Group platform on which he would contest the 2007 elections anticipated a place for the know-how, investments, network and participation of the Diaspora in the election.

Citing the role of the Indian Diaspora in stimulating India's new resurgence, Utomi said he was confident that  Nigerians in Diaspora was in a position to do much more if properly inspired with enabling conditions.

He held that this was why he had crafted a strategy built around this great asset base.

He said  his strategy for rapid poverty reduction, social harmony building and international prestige for Nigeria includes using industrial parks.

"All infrastructures are provided to reverse the trend towards de-industrialization in Nigeria, and massive infrastructure development public works programmes to put income in the pockets of millions of Nigerians.

"This would generate a virtuous circle of investments, job creation and economic expansion that will yield double digit GDP growth,"  Utomi stressed.

Welcoming the participants to the meeting, Miami resident civil engineering entrepreneur Charles Gilbert spoke passionately about how the candidacy of Prof. Utomi had brought hope back to many of them.

The Ondo state born engineer urged those who were at the Town Hall to spread the word that Nigerians could take their country back from the traditional politicians and militicians who have held the country hostage for so long, leaving the people in a sense of hopelessness.

Speaking in a similar vein Hassan Ahmad, Katsina state born design engineer with a leading manufacturing group in the Miami area expressed great delight that people like Utomi who have  track records were contesting the 2007 elections, and such a clear vision were offering themselves to serve and pledged the support of the Diaspora Nigerians.

Two members of the Indianapolis delegation who flew in for the meeting, Olujimi Akiboh and Alfred Dosekun who introduced the Guest of honor spoke of his sense of service, compassion, competence and simplicity urging the Diaspora to key into the Utomi Contract with the Diaspora as a sure bet on how to renew Nigeria.