By Magnus Agu
Reading through the public letter by Collins Nweke, purportedly addressed to the new Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs I thought it would be something new, something different, something more intelligent. But it was all still same of the same I won’t bore you with a long treatise I think Collins Nweke already did that .So let me go straight to the points that I want to focus on in the write-up
- The issue of NIDO (Nigerians in Diaspora Organization ). Collins Nweke has taken us through the history of the formation of NIDO, I don’t have any problem with his historical background.
NIDO, an initiative of President Olusegun Obasanjo many years ago, was set up to have all Diaspora groups under one umbrella. Unfortunately, the purpose was not achieved due to in-fighting, and quarrels, that subsequently saw even original, serious-minded members of the group exiting NIDO, thanks to the sit-tight and clandestine nature of its inaugural leaders like Collins Nweke and few of his cohorts.
Stories are replete of many Nigerians abroad who were recommended to join the organization but left disappointed and wondered how they would function in an organization that had different factions, had lots of hidden and selfish agendas by its so called leaders at that time . They were confused as they had to deal with these fears so they, like many others, saw no focus and so opted out. So Collins Nweke, a founding father of NIDO should be ashamed of the general state of affairs of NIDO , particularly the clandestine NIDO Worldwide and NIDO Continental , which he and just a handful of his like, treacherously hold on to as their cash cow. It’s either his way or no way.
Now, don’t get me wrong. There are various branches of NIDO doing well in some countries. Take for instance NIDO Sierra Leone. NIDO Sierra Leone has taken up a project to build a hospital in Sierra Leone for Nigerians in Sierra Leone. NIDO Europe (representing the whole of Europe led by Bashir Obasekola), NIDO Qatar, NIDO South Korea, NIDO Sweden, and some other NIDO chapters in some countries are doing well in their various chapters and must be commended, along with other diaspora groups and associations and individuals making Nigeria proud.
It must be noted that some countries don’t have any organization called NIDO. For instance, South Africa has NICASA, and Nusa, Australia has an Association of Nigerians in Australia, and Ethiopia has an organization called NISE. I could go on and on. In America there is NAPAC , an association that has supported Nigerians contesting various elections in America, and today about 14 Nigerians in America have won their elections in America with the support of NAPAC .
In Canada alone there are about 51 diaspora organizations and none of which is called NIDO. Canada is peculiar because one of Collins Nweke´s colleagues registered NIDO in his own name. In other words, he owns NIDO. Story for another day. We all know that there are professional associations like ANPA, NAPPSA, MANSAG, NNCA, NCBN, NNC and several other professional and socio cultural groups. Canuk in the UK represents almost over 100 associations while existing along NIDO UK South Zumunta is also a very strong and purposeful diaspora group.
So would it not be easier if all these associations are under one umbrella as former President Olusegun Obasanjo envisaged? Noble intention but these genuine objectives failed over the years because people like Collins Nweke remained selfish and self-centered. They could not keep NIDO as one I mean how can an association that is fragmented bring others on board? For instance, NIDOAfrica shamelessly has at least 2 factions. Fighting over what? NIDO America has more than a faction. There are some NIDO groups in some countries in Asia and the Middle East, existing along side other very active and purposeful groups.
NIDO does not exist anywhere in Australia and many other countries around the world.
As noble as the objective of having all Nigerian diaspora groups under one umbrella is, it has not worked.
So what NIDO needs to do is put its own house in order and rebrand, talk to all these associations, and see if they can bring them together under one room. But my fears are it is too late now because of people like Colin’s Nweke and and his cohorts, who after 25 years , feel that they must hold on to NIDO and hold 17 million Nigerians in the diaspora to ransom through what Nweke calls NIDO Worldwide and NIDO Continental. These are bodies created by him and his gang made up of former Chairmen of NIDO whom they constituted with the aim of remaining in charge of these associations for life.
Mr Chairman, put yourself in this situation. Imagine former chairmen and members of the house committee of diaspora constituting themselves into associations of former committee members and taking decisions for you as a serving parliamentarian and chairman of committee? What Collins Nweke is thus asking you to do is to take these guys, who have been former chairmen of NIDO, as the alpha and omega of all 17 million Nigerians in Diaspora? Chairman, does that make sense to you?
Nweke is talking about rule of law . What moral right does a man who was an executive of NIDO since the days of President Obasanjo, but refuses to let go, through what he calls NIDO Worldwide? I think Collins Nweke , beyond giving empty foreign policy analysis on TV sometimes, needs a job . Mr Chairman, you can help him get a job, please.
Collins Nweke and his NIDO Worldwide and NIDO Continental (whatever it means) has remained a nuisance and a distraction from genuine diaspora issues affecting Nigerians all over the world.
Mr. Chairman sir, I challenge you to ask Collins Nweke to give you just 500 genuine names of his members world wide!
Colllins Nweke`s piece titled “Ending the Affront to the Rule of Law“ is ironic because , as expressly stated above, if there is any affront to the rule of law that should be ended ,it should be that of Colllins Nweke and his inconsequential microscopic minority gang who want to be perpetual rulers, We in the Diaspora will continue to resist and reject them.
Now , we have our own Commission, NIDCOM, to relate with. And in this age of technology, getting data of registered groups and associations and bringing them together to work for the progress of our country is easier. And we can see that NIDCOM is doing just that.
As for the issue of the NiDCOM Board, it is an administrative structure to be set up by Mr President, so it is an administrative matter. NiDCOM Board is not the only Board that has not been constituted and it will be constituted, hopefully soon. However, we must commend the Diaspora Commission for bringing the Diaspora phenomenon to the front burner and you can see it’s been doing well despite all the challenges as well as little or no funding. They have taken the issue of diaspora seriously and put Nigerian issues on the front burner and we do appreciate this. Is the Commission perfect? No, but we have to help in building and strengthening this organization. Diaspora is a part of our foreign policy in Nigeria and if you look at the diaspora policy, it is well crafted if it is properly implemented we would even do better than other countries have done all over the world.
Nweke’s obsession, as in other issues with him , is self serving . He desperately had hoped to be chairman or worse case , member of the board, especially if another party had won elections, not the APC. Well, dreams do come true. I wish him well.
And on the issue of Diaspora voting, Collins Nweke and his gang are not even sincere about this. A few years back they said, oh, they will mobilize 1,000,000 people on Diaspora voting and they could not even mobilize one person.
So therefore he is not in a position to talk about diaspora voting. Diaspora voting has been an issue that has been championed by people at home and in the diaspora. There is already a bill in the Senate to amend the constitution to make diaspora voting a reality and what we want from you Mr Chairman is to join in our voices to make this a reality.
In his write-up, Collins Nweke asked you a pertinent question, which he termed “the elephant in the room.” He asked “what do you want to be remembered for?” I pose the same question right back to you.
What do you want to be remembered for?
A selfless, patriotic parliamentarian or a religious, tribal bigot that will give in to selfish manipulations? (By the way Mr Chairman, I know you are a member of the Labour Party to which people like Collins Nweke belong to) So do you want to be remembered as a selfless parliamentarian who put the issues of diaspora selflessly Irrespective of tribe, political affiliations? Or one who will join the clarion call for all Nigerians at home and abroad to join hands to build Nigeria together
The ball is in your court!
*Magnus Agu wrote from magnusagu85@gmai.com
