NIDO caution Diaspora commission against divisive tendencies

Nigeria in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) yesterday enjoined the chairperson of the Diaspora Commission, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa to avoid activities that could break the ranks of its members.

NIDO’s spokesperson, Fidel. Wilson observed that the commission led by Dabiri-Erewa’s inconsistent position on the true status of NIDO on the proposed Nigeria in diaspora commission (NIDCOM) Act leaves less to be desired.

NIDO maintained that the legislation was quite explicit on the workings of NIDO and other Nigerian organisations in the Diaspora.

The group noted; “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.”

The group remarked that 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.

The group stressed that NIDO and not for Nigerians in Nigeria and selected friends of Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

NIDO, however, expressed confidence in the judgment of President Muhammadu Buhari and other top advisers in Diaspora matters that they would take the right steps in due course.

The group was reacting to a recent press statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun Head, Media and Public Relations Unit NIDCOM following a town hall meeting with Nigerians in the Americas,

On the issue of NIDCOM board, Dabiri-Erewa 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”

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 virtue of the provision of the spirit of NIDCOM Act,