By Lesley Muosowo Otu
Nigerians living abroad under the umbrella of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), has alleged that the Chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Ms Abike Dabiri-Erewa, is promoting division among Nigerians in Diaspora.
Reacting to a statement by NIDCOM, the Assistant General Secretary, NIDO, Europe, Mr. Fidel O. Wilson, alleged that Dabiri-Erewa was planning to form NIDOCOM board from one organization.
Wilson quoted NIDCOM’s Head, Media and Public Relations Unit, Abdur-Rahman as saying in a statement that: “On the issue of NIDCOM board, she was optimistic that President Muhammadu Buhari will constitute appropriately, but denounced the fallacy in some circles that the two representatives of the Diaspora in six continents will come from “only one” Diaspora organisation.”
He said that Dabiri-Erewa was trying to misinterpret the NIDCOM Act in order to misinform the public, while exploiting such misinformation to confer undue advantage on her cronies and friends, which he added, negates the original dream behind the establishment of NIDCOM.
Wilson contended that NIDCOM Act was primarily aimed at accommodating all Nigerians in the Diasporas and therefore, its Board should not be closed to other various Nigerian Diaspora organisations across the globe.
“The inclusion of two representatives of NIDO from the relevant continents as enshrined in the ACT, does not in any way exclude the inclusion of other Diaspora organizations and well-meaning Nigerians in Diaspora. After all the Commission was made for Nigerians in Diaspora and not for Nigerians in Nigeria and selected friends of Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
“The instrument is quite explicit on the workings of NIDO and other Nigerian organisations in the Diaspora, hence, Abike Dabiri-Erewa should desist from causing divisions within Diaspora organisation in other to favour her indiscretion.
“Abike Dabiri-Erewa’s act is invariably dangerous as she propagates misleading information whilst using the position of her office to stroke the amber of discord among Diaspora Organizations 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 Nation”, Wilson stated.
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take urgent steps in ensuring that the anticipated constitution of the NIDCOM Board was done in line with the provisions of the act.
However, when contacted by Newsdiaryonline, Dabiri-Erewa through her Special Adviser, Mr. Abdur-Rahman Balogun described the Wilson’s allegation as confusing.
“Our attention has been drawn to an obviously confusing and illogical statement being circulated in the media by the Chairman of NIDO, Europe, Mr. Kenneth Gbendi on the relationship between Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM and the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, NIDO, as well as other several cultural and professional diaspora groups abroad.”
According to Balogun, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo came up with the idea of NIDO as an umbrella body of all diaspora organisations, for 20yrs, this was not achieved.
“So it is important to stress here that NIDCOM is not to relate with NIDO but all recognised diaspora organisations.
“NIDCOM has been able to engage as many diaspora groups as possible in all parts of the world through its various activities and intervention but the leadership of NIDO, Europe wants to go it all alone. And according to Kenneth Gbendi who has been in NIDO’s leadership in the last 20yrs, “it’s either my way or no way.
“For the purpose of clarity and emphasis, NIDCOM is for the diasporas, irrespective of groups or affiliations, not for one organisation or group in the Diaspora,” he stressed.
He added that NIDCOM under the leadership of Abike Dabiri-Erewa, “will continue to be guided by the Act of the people that set it up as well as see to the overall welfare of all Nigerians living abroad in line with its citizen diplomacy philosophy.”
