There appears to be no end in sight as the crisis rocking the Nigerian Diaspora Organisation United Kingdom (UK) chapter deepens.
The leadership of the Chapter which appears to be hell-bent on taking a pound of flesh of some innocent members of the organisation has aggravated the crisis and damned all entreaties for peace with the sacking of four prominent members of the organisation.
Affected by the reported illegal expulsion were Pastor Peters Omoragbon Executive President Nurses Across the Borders and UN Permanent Representative; Hon Cllr Harold Ogunfemi International Project Coordinator; Hon Chibuzor Rosemary Onwogbonu, Current member of the NIDOE Central Executive Committee as Welfare Director and Cllr Taslim Gbaja-Biamila immediate past Vice Chairman of NIDO UKS Chapter who contested against Pastor Niyi Zaccheaus for the post of the Chapter Chairman in 2023.
Irked by the expulsion the trio in a letter dated August 31, 2024, and addressed to the NIDOE Central Executive Committee (CEC) and the Board of Trustees NIDOE, alerted the central body in United Kingdom on their illegal expulsion from NIDO UKS and appealed to them for intervention.
Titled, ‘A Breach of the NIDO UKS and NIDOE Constitution and Infringement of Our Fundamental Human Rights to Fair Hearing and Due Process: An Appeal to the NIDOE CEC/BOT to set aside the unconstitutional expulsion,” the four averred that the petitioners are Financial Members of the NIDO UKS and NIDOE having fulfilled all membership obligations as enshrined in both the NIDO UKS and NIDOE Constitutions. The letter read, “We were all shocked to be served the above notice of expulsion from the NIDO UKS by the Executive Committee of the Chapter and the notice also served on the NIDOE CEC requesting that we be equally expelled from the continental body.
“Reference was made to Article 9.1, 9.2 of the NIDO UKS Constitution as the basis for our expulsion. For the purpose of this petition, it is necessary to quote the sections above for ease of reference: Article 9.1: Membership may be revoked on the recommendation of 2/3 of members of the Executive Committee being ratified by a simple majority at a General Meeting to ensure the democratic nature of the association.”
The four drew the attention of the central body that allegations/accusations did not in any way fall under any of the nine grounds for an expulsion other than members expressing their freedom of expression and the Exco have just demonstrated their intolerance to criticism as leaders. “The NIDO UKS Executive Committee has overstepped their bounds by this autocratic action as it negates the very spirit and objects of both the NIDOE and NIDO UKS Constitutions and the Articles relied upon for their unconstitutional act was not properly followed. The Exco cannot be judge and prosecutor in their matter.”
The four members desirous of enduring solution to the crisis, appealed to the continental body to step in and resolve the matter amicably, even though they urged NIDOE CEC and members of the BOT to rescind their unconstitutional expulsion with immediate effect and restore their full rights as members of NIDO UKS and NIDOE.
They also urged the continental body to set up an independent committee to investigate the flagrant abuse of power and position by the Executive Committee as the NIDO UKS has been turned into a military zone where members have been coerced into submission and subservience. “We are not allowed to openly express ourselves and if we do, we are either taken off the platforms or suspended indefinitely. As it is two members of the Executive Committee have been placed on indefinite suspension from the Exco since June 2, 2024. Pastor Omoragbon has been placed on indefinite suspension from Organisation since August 6, 2024, and the wife Mrs Helen Omoragbon equally suspended without any offence other than being the wife of Pastor Peters”
Our source also uncovered that the four also demanded that NIDOE should set up a committee to review all the Chapters’ Constitution to ensure they align with the Superiority of NIDOE Constitution as stipulated in Article 47 of the NIDOE Constitution. “Set up a Caretaker Committee for NIDO UKS until all the above infractions are remedied. As it is, the Pastor Niyi led Executive Committee has lost the confidence of the membership and if care is not taken, the Chapter will be fractionalised,” the letter stated.
It was also gathered from the grapevine that the Dr. Bashir Obasekola led NIDOE Central Executive Committee are making frantic efforts to prevent the crisis from escalating beyond its current situation as the NIDOE AGM comes up in just few weeks. The central body nonetheless is not happy with the action of the NIDOE UKS as it is deemed unconstitutional if due process was not followed. We shall keep readers updated as events unfold,” they stated.
