NIDO Asks FG, Edo Not to Recognise Odibo

Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja

The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) has called the Edo State and Federal Governments to desist from dealing with Dr. Johnson Odibo, who is parading himself as Chairman, NIDO Switzerland.

The President/Chairman of NIDO, Mr. Omowie Oroeghene made this clarification in a statement at the weekend, claiming that Odibo was never the duly elected President/Chairman of NIDO Switzerland.

The statement said the legitimate and duly elected Chairman and President of NIDO Switzerland “is the person of Mr Omowie Oroeghene.”

“This is a direct message to Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki that Edo indigenes will not allow an impostor to be in the Diaspora Committee Agency that was recently inaugurated in Edo State.”

Oroeghene’s statement came after Obaseki constituted an eight-member Steering Committee for the establishment of the Edo State Diaspora Agency.

Obaseki had charged the eight-man committee with the drafting of a bill for the setting up of an agency that will cater for Edo indigenes living in the Diaspora.

He also tasked them to define the resource requirements for the take-off of the agency; source for the Chairman and the Director General of the Agency and recommend same to the Governor for approval; facilitate internal and external collaborations with stakeholders; consider any other matter incidental to 1-5 and make recommendations to Government as may be deemed necessary

Members of the committee as announced by Obaseki include: Anthony Okungbowa, Head of Service, Edo State, who will serve as chairman, Amb. Adesuwa Uwaifo (based in Tanzania), Chris Osarumwense, Dr Loretta Ogoro-Okor (UK) and Soni Irabor.

Other members are Dr Johnson Odibo, chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Switzerland, Prof Isa Odidi (Canada) and Isaac Ebewele.