By Staff Writer | Special Report
In a powerful endorsement of the African Democratic Congress’s (ADC) evolving Diaspora agenda, Professor Mondy Gold, Chairman of the Ijaw Diaspora Council and former Board of Trustees Chair of NADECO-USA, has commended Hon. (Dr.) Kenneth Gbandi and the ADC leadership for the bold institutional inclusion of Nigerians in the Diaspora in the party’s newly reviewed constitution. However, Prof. Gold emphasized that true inclusion must go beyond structural recognition to tangible political empowerment.
In a widely circulated open letter addressed to Hon. Gbandi, who also served as the Deputy National Chairman (Diaspora Affairs) in the past NWC and convener of the Nigerian Diaspora Constitutional Framework Committee (NDCfC), Prof. Gold described the constitutional review process as “a bold declaration that the Nigerian Diaspora can no longer remain on the fringes of our national democratic experience.”
“What has emerged is not just a working document,” he wrote, “but a declaration that the Nigerian Diaspora can no longer remain peripheral to democratic participation.”
Yet, while commending the progress, Prof. Gold issued a clear and urgent call for more substance over symbolism. He stressed that Diaspora rights must be rooted not only in rhetorical recognition, but in legislative action and political agency.
Voting Rights Must Be Guaranteed, Not Deferred
One of Prof. Gold’s most striking critiques targets the lack of concrete electoral rights for Diaspora members within the party and nationally. While acknowledging the ADC-Diaspora Network’s (ADC-DN) recognition in party structures, Prof. Gold challenged the continued deferral of Diaspora voting rights to “unspecified government directives.”
“Deferring to undefined government directives is inadequate and uninspiring,” he noted. “A truly visionary constitution should advocate legislative breakthroughs, not rely on convenient uncertainties.”
This assertion reinforces a growing demand within global Nigerian communities for a constitutional roadmap toward Diaspora voting, which remains a distant reality despite years of advocacy.
From Symbolic Status to Sovereign Political Identity
Prof. Gold further urged that the Diaspora be affirmed as a sovereign political bloc, not just as a liaison body or compliance mechanism. While the draft constitution recognizes the Diaspora as the “7th geopolitical zone,” its use of language like “liaison” and “appendage” undermines the weight of that recognition. “We must envision and codify the Diaspora as a full-fledged political bloc,” he asserted, “capable of influencing party policy, initiating developmental strategies, and participating actively in national discourse.” In this, he echoes Hon. Gbandi’s long-standing vision of the Diaspora not as a satellite, but as a strategic force in Nigerian politics and development.
A Shared Foundation for Reform
While acknowledging that the current draft of the ADC Constitution “leans more toward appeasement than empowerment,” Prof. Gold expressed optimism that it offers a foundation for reform. He encouraged stakeholders to view this moment not merely as a policy exercise but as a transformational opportunity.
“Let us move forward not merely with the aim of amending a document, but with the mission to transform the architecture of Nigerian democracy—one that includes all her citizens, near and far, with dignity and purpose.”
A Call to Action
As constitutional conversations continue ahead of Nigeria’s next electoral cycle, Prof. Gold’s intervention serves as both commendation and challenge: a salute to the progress made, and a passionate plea for deeper, more meaningful change. His statement reaffirms the critical importance of Diaspora engagement not just in rhetoric but in the actual structures of power and participation a message that is increasingly resonant across global Nigerian communities.
Prof. Mondy Gold is the current Chairman of the Ijaw Diaspora Council, a former Chair of the NADECO-USA Board of Trustees, and a member of the Nigerian Diaspora Constitutional Framework Committee (NDCfC). He is a long-standing advocate for democratic reforms and inclusive governance in Nigeria.
