Leaders of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Worldwide have said the organization was not established for espionage purposes by the federal government, urging compatriots to embrace a patriotic approach to national discourse.
The leaders said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on the sidelines of a virtual meeting moderated by Dr Victor Ubani, the Chairman of NiDO-Americas (NiDOA) and Coordinating Chair of NiDO Worldwide.
The leaders said it was not true that NiDO was created by the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA).
They said, rather, the organisation was created primarily to promote patriotism as a dynamic force for overcoming the country’s challenges.
They described the claims suggesting that the Federal Government established NiDO for espionage purposes on fellow Nigerians, as malicious, harmful, and baseless.
According to them, the claims regarding NiDO’s membership and activities being infiltrated by NIA operatives are defamatory and lack evidence.
Dr John George, former Chairman of NiDO-Europe (NiDOE) said, “Such false report does not augur well for all of us in the organisation.
“To say NiDO members are spies is extremely damaging to professionals whose credibility is questioned in their host countries with groundless claims.”
Mr Obed Monago, former Chairman of NiDOA, underscored the need for compatriots to embrace fact-checking as a means to correct misconceptions.
“The thought that NiDO members are trained NIA agents is malicious and cannot be substantiated. NiDO members are largely professionals in their host countries,” Monago said.
Amb. Joseph Ayalogu, a retired Nigerian Ambassador to Ukraine, pointed out that there is a need to correct wrong impressions, not just about NiDO but national identity.
“The outcome of the establishment of NiDO has really brought about huge rewards from compatriots who are professionals abroad.
“The Nigerian missions have since the establishment of NiDO worked in synergy to protect the interest of Nigeria and compatriots living abroad,” he said.
Lola Visser-Mabogunje, a NiDO member in Netherlands, recounted that NiDO was established in 2000, during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, as an umbrella organisation for Nigerians in the Diaspora.
According to her, brain drain was a problem and required a solution then, Obasanjo thereby engaged Nigerians living abroad to contribute their quota toward national development.
“Such discussion brought about the establishment of NiDO, now responsible for bringing foreign direct investment and capacity building that has advanced growth of the country,” she said.
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