…appeal for Nigerian government intervention
Nigerians in Gabon have cried for help over the inhuman treatment against them in the country. President, Nigerian community in Gabon, Chief Nwanevu C. Gordian in a statement said Nigerians are facing challenges due to high-handedness from embassy staff, leading to difficulties in accessing essential services and assistance.
Chief Gordian said as Chargé des Affaire, Mr Okoloho crippled the leadership of the Nigerian community, ensured it must not function, and then segregated the people by sharing leadership cards to non- officers of the Association to the detriment of the leadership of the elected President and his executive. This goes to show he has some skeletons in his cupboard.
In a statement, Chief Gordian alleged that the Charge des Affair of Nigerian Embassy in Gabon, Mr Godwin O. Okoloho whose mission has elapsed has made life extremely difficult for the leadership of the Nigerian Community and Nigerians living in Gabon.
The statement reads:
“You all are aware of the rumours of the alleged, letter written to the Nigerian authorities to retain Mr Godwin O. Okoloho, The Charge des Affaire, of Nigerian Embassy here in Gabon, after his period of mission here have elapsed. His stay here has never been easy for all well meaning Nigerians here in Gabon. We all know that he, Mr Okoloho introduced high handedness, menace, constant threats, harassment, repatriation and imprisonment to anybody that disagrees with him. We kept him at arms length, as he had made such attempt to my predecessor and his team.
“We all allowed him to reign with his high handedness, but now that his period is over, he is seeking for an extension through an alleged retention letter by non-members of the Nigerian Community in Gabon. We the Nigerian Community leadership are asking him to go and let another diplomat replace him in line with the Extant Laws of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that of our host country, Gabon. We have decided to distance ourselves from the said letter purportedly seeking for his continued stay in Gabon as Charge des Affaire. Using the name of a community you are not leading to obtain favor and to continue balkanizing the peace, tranquility and unity Nigerians in Gabon are enjoying is not healthy. It is a total fraud and impersonation”.
We urge the perpetrators of the illegality to tender an unreserved apology to the Nigerian Community leadership in particular and to the Nigerian community in Gabon in general”.
In a related development, Chief Gordian lamented how Nigerians travelling to China for their private business have been forced to pay a mandatory 10.000 Fcfa at the Nigerian Embassy each time they want to obtain their visas from Chinese Embassy while travelling to China. He alleged that the Charge des Affaire created sectional groups that he is using to undermine the office of the Nigerian Community leadership, thereby denying the President’s right and privileges.
The Nigerian community in Gabon is calling for intervention from the Nigerian government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or other authorities to address the high-handedness and
provide a conducive environment for Nigerians living in Gabon.
The community seeks support to resolve these issues and improve their overall livelihood in Gabon.