“We Need Help,” Nigerians in Gabon Cry Out

…appeals for Nigerian Government intervention

Nigerians in Gabon have cried for help over the inhuman treatment against them in the country.

President of the 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 with 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 the 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 the Nigerian Embassy here in Gabon after his period of mission here has 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 who disagreed with him. We kept him at arm’s length, as he had made such an attempt at 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 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 his continued stay in Gabon as Charge des Affaire. Using the name of a community you are not leading to obtain favour and to continue balkanising the peace, tranquillity 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 the 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 rights 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.

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