DOCTOR Paul Vincent, an Abia State-born Nigerian Preacher, is a Captain/Chaplain in the United State’s Army. He is a US citizen. In this interview with our JIMITOTA ONOYUME in Port Harcourt, Dr. Vincent spoke on the success of Nigerians in diaspora, their expectations from their home government and burning political issues.

Nigerians in diaspora
God has blessed Nigerians in Diaspora so much that you find them everywhere doing great things. The ones we hear more about are those into crime, fraud. Every country has criminals and Nigeria being a very big country, has its own share of crime. The most educated immigrants are Nigerians and they contribute positively to the American economy.

How is your Ministry?
My ministry is doing fine. I was a minister before I joined the US Army as a chaplain.

As a dual citizen what are the things you expect government to do for Nigerians in diaspora?
I am a US Army officer and the US does not recognise dual citizenship. Nigerian government has been gracious enough to give me two years multiple visa. The government can do a lot to help Nigerians in diaspora. Some countries treat Nigerians with disrespect and the government can play a role here. When a country treats your citizen disrespectfully the government can stand up to tell the country that ‘we treat your citizens with dignity in our country, so we demand same from you.’ It’s unfair when Nigerians are treated unfairly outside and the government does not come in their defence. Anywhere a US citizen is the government is there for him. The Nigerian government should speak and defend her citizens anywhere in the world.

Do you think Nigerians in diaspora should vote in the 2015 election?
Yes! I think they should be allowed to vote. I presume the fear of manipulation is why they are not allowed to vote. If they can come up with means to ensure their vote count, it will be fine.

I know politics is a do or die thing for many Nigerian politicians. They are so desperate and even ready to kill. It is not supposed to be so. We should see political office as an opportunity to serve the people. We as a people should begin to redefine public office as a place to serve the people. In the developed world, people donate five, 10 dollars to political campaigns because they believe the people are going to serve. It should be the driving force.

Any message of hope for Nigerians back home?
I want to encourage Nigerians not to give up. I want to challenge the leadership of the country to do something in the area of power; because it affects investment. This is why some people prefer to go to neighbouring countries where there’s regular power. If the government fixes power our economy will pick up. The power issue is also why some Nigerians don’t come home regularly. Nigerians are tough people, they don’t give up easily but the government should help them.

People in public office should also do the right thing; corruption is part of the problems. I want to encourage Nigerians not to give up, I see a new dawn coming. I see restoration. The role the leaders play have a lot to do. Our leaders can prolong our story as a nation. Look at the children of Israel, they would have made it into the promised land within a short time but because of disobedience they ended up wandering for 40 years.
Those in power and the followers should do the right thing. Nigeria will be a better place. Nigerians should begin to have a change of attitude in all they do. It is also a systemic problem. You hear people say this is how we do things. If everybody continues like this the system will not grow.

Nigerians should begin to see themselves as agents of this change then they can all achieve a healthy nation.