In response to the exchanges between Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Mr Fred Odorige;
For some days now, we in NIDO-Europe have been reading with dismay threaded exchanges between Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, and Mr. Frederick Odorige, the convener of the Global Coalition for Security & Democracy in Nigeria (GCSDN), an erstwhile Chairman of one of our NIDO Chapters (2019-2021). To say the least, we are flabbergasted by the contents and taken aback not only by the language of such exchanges but also by the attempt to draw NIDO-Europe into an issue which we do not have any idea or link.
We have been extremely busy throughout this week, working assiduously in the planning of our humanitarian projects tagged “A Week in & for Nigeria,” taking place from July 19th–25th in Abuja, for which our members have financially committed and are currently on their way to Nigeria. So, the last thing we would wish is to be distracted from this program at the last minute. Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have responded if we had not been intentionally tagged by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa with a direct question as to “what is NIDO doing about fraudulent Nigerians spoiling the work of good Nigerians in Europe?”
You may recall that we issued a standing disclaimer some time ago that no former or current officer or member, no matter how high-ranking he/she was/is, can represent our position on any issue unless expressly authorised by the current Continental Chairman of NIDO-Europe or the General Assembly of NIDO.
Hence, we have gone through all the correspondence and exchanges between Mr. Frederick Odorige of the Global Coalition for Security & Democracy in Nigeria (GCSDN) and other Nigerian government institutions, including NiDCOM. We haven’t found any incident where Mr. Odorige impersonated NIDO-Europe while acting for GCSDN. Having retired from the leadership of NIDO-Hungary in early 2021, Mr. Odorige never pursued his activism under the NIDO banner. In other words, there is no connection between NIDO-Europe and GCSDN.
Moreover, we find it disturbing why NIDO should be vilified or held responsible for any of its former officers or even members who are exercising their personal rights to association and freedom of speech. We do not hold a brief for anyone, including our former officers, who are now free individuals with the right to pursue any endeavour, including GCSDN. We also see it as very inappropriate to associate the activities of Mr. Odorige with those of the Honourable Kenneth Gbandi and Collins Nweke (both former Continental Chairmen of NIDO) mentioned in the threaded exchanges. Mr. Odorige is a mature and free individual, who could undertake and answer for any of his activities as the convener of the Global Coalition for Security & Democracy in Nigeria. We also believe that both Honourable Kenneth Gbandi and Collins Nweke, who have served our great organisation to the best of their abilities, are capable of defending themselves as they deem fit on any of these issues.
Finally, we strongly urge that NIDO-Europe should not be drawn into issues that do not stem from it in the future. The organisation will continue to pursue its mission and avoid any sentiments that may undermine its reputation and that of its officers.
Thank you,
Dr Bashir Obasekola,
Continental Chairman.
