NIGERIANS ABROAD ARE relentlessly pursuing their stake in Nigerian elections even though they are still unable to vote in such elections.

 

Over the weekend, a group of Nigerians led by Dr. Emmanuel Dada announced completion of plans to host at least two tele-conferences for gubernatorial candidates, although both candidates are from the AC

 

The two candidates are Oyo State AC candidate for governor, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, himself a former US-based Nigerian and Chief Babatunde Fashola, AC candidate in Lagos. The planners have not indicated  whether they will invite other candidates from other political parties. Even though AC-USA leaders were reportedly expected at the teleconferece, they were absent at the first one held over the weekend.

 

The first of such teleconference was held over the weekend while have been scheduled and on held on Saturday evening, while a second one is planned for next weekend. In the teleconference, a US based phone number is made available, normally available for free, and several callers will call the number and use an access code to gain entrance into the conference, where there is a coordinator who calls on people to talk one after the order.

 

 According to Dr. Emmanuel Dada, a US based Nigerian professional who is coordinating both teleconferences, the idea is to give Nigerians abroad the opportunity to relate with the candidates, adding however that the forum will not be used to fundraising.

 

The first guest at the teleconference held on Saturday evening was AC gubernatorial candidate for Oyo State Professor Taoheed Adedoja and AC Lagos candidate Chief Fashola is expected to feature next week.

 

In a notice sent out on last week's teleconference by Dada, "If you an  Oyo State indigene or a friend of Oyo
State, you are cordially invited to participate in a teleconference with Professor Adedoja, the AC
Gubernatorial candidate taking place on Saturday, March 17, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. (USA, EST) or 10:00 p.m.
(Nigeria’s time). You will have the opportunity to listen to Professor Adedoja as he outlines his
cardinal programs for the social, political and economic development of Oyo State. His presentation
will be followed by a question and answer session."

 

The notice added that those who are interested in asking a question during the teleconference, should send their question ahead to the coordinator of the teleconference few days to the conference and preference are given to questions already sent ahead

 

Over the weekend Professor Adedoja called in for the first teleconference which lasted for about 3 hours between 5pm and 8 pm New York time, with almost 30 callers, some of whom also extended the calls on their own phones conference key. That has the potential of extending the participants of the conference way beyond the callers.

 

US based Nigerians called in to the conference from across the US including different groups-ethnic, gender, etc and individuals, mostly professionals and university professors.

 

On the conference, Adedoja restated his commitment to bring a higher level of public service to bear if elected Governor and said he will put the interest of the people above the party. According to him "once I am elected Governor, I am no longer a candidate of one party, but the Governor of the entire state."

 

Participants at the teleconference included Dr. Baba Adam, a US based democracy activist who said he went to the same US college, Oklahoma State University in the US with Adedoja. The callers and Adedoja made it clear that no one should send money to his campaign from the US since it is against the Nigerian laws, but several callers many of whom were indigenes of Oyo State said they will reach out to their relatives, family and friends to troop out and vote for the candidate next month.

 

A similar conference is expected next week for AC guber candidate in Lagos.