NIDO Accuses Dabiri-Erewa of Creating Crisis among Diaspora Organisations

 

Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Europe chapter, has accused the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri, of using her office to create discord among diaspora organisations at a time when Nigerians in Diaspora are uniting to fight COVID-19, a pandemic devastating people all over the world.

The Public Relations Officer and Assistant General Secretary of NIDO Europe, Mr. Fidel Wilson, stated this in a statement issued on Monday while reacting to a recent statement signed by Head of Media and Public Relations Unit of NIDCOM, Mr. Abdur-Rahman Balogun, on behalf of Dabiri-Erewa following a town hall meeting held with Nigerians in America.

He quoted Dabiri-Erewa as saying in the statement that she was optimistic that President Muhammadu Buhari would constitute NIDCOM board appropriately, but denounced the fallacy in some circles that the two representatives of the Diasporas in six continents would come from only one diaspora organisation.

Wilson said the inclusion of two representatives of NIDO from the relevant continents as enshrined in the Act establishing it, does not in any way exclude the inclusion of other diaspora organisations and well-meaning Nigerians in Diaspora, stressing that after all, the commission was made for Nigerians in Diaspora and not for Nigerians in Nigeria and selected friends of NIDCOM chairman.

According to him, "During the session of the town hall meeting, she however referred to NIDO as an umbrella body  of all diaspora organisations; while this is correct by the virtue of the provision of the spirit of NIDCOM Act, therefore, could not be a false belief at the same time as presented in the statement.

"Therefore, can Dabiri-Erewa contrast her statement in Paragraph eight with the relevant provisions in page A 186 2017 No. 15? The instrument is quite explicit on the workings of NIDO and other Nigerian organisations in Diaspora, hence, Dabiri-Erewa should desist from causing divisions within diaspora organisation in other to favour her indiscretion.

"Dabiri-Erewa's act is invariably dangerous as she propagates misleading information while using the position of her office to stroke the amber of discord among Diaspora Organisations for her selfish interest at a time when Nigerians in Diaspora are increasingly uniting to fight a common enemy (Covid-19) that is devastating our people and our country."

Reacting, Balogun said NIDO remained an organisation for a few individuals, unlike NIDCOM that has succeeded in bringing together all diaspora organisations.

According to him, President Olusegun Obasanjo indeed wanted NIDO to be an umbrella body of all diaspora organisations, “but unfortunately for 20 years, it remained an organisation for a few individuals, who go about seeking favours for themselves all in the name of Diaspora.”

Balogun questioned what NIDO Europe has achieved apart from circulating the same persons for the past 20 years.