It has come to our attention that the current chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) UK South, Hon Susan Waya, has been appointed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the Chairman of Special Duties Sub-Committee of the Conference Central Planning Committee.
Whilst we congratulate her on her appointment, we feel that her position as Chairman of NIDO UKS is now untenable.
The chairman’s position in NIDO is a demanding role and we also feel that this appointment is yet another ugly incident for the organisation.
NIDO is apolitical and the only organisation recognised by the government to represent Nigerians in the Diaspora, it cannot have a sitting chairman who is presently based in Makurdi, Benue state in Nigeria, managing its affairs and at the same time running errands for PDP, a major political party.
NIDO UK needs a chairperson who is based full-time in the UK and focused on the tasks of the organisation and not someone who is based 5000 miles away in Nigeria and fully engaged in partisan politics.
No one can serve two masters at the same time and her appointment does confirm that Susan Waya has abrogated her responsibilities and duty as chairperson of NIDO UK South.
The organisation has been left floundering with no agenda or direction and has barely recovered from the damage done to its reputation by the disgraced former chairman, Prince Henry Egenti.
It was felt that following her appointment as the new chairperson, Susan Waya would have helped the organisation to restore its reputation. However, by engaging actively in partisan politics, Susan Waya has dragged NIDO UK into an unpleasant territory and this is yet another stain on the reputation of NIDO.
We have confirmed that Susan Waya left the UK in January 2022, a few days following her confirmation as chairman and returned to the UK briefly in June 2022 for ten days and has since returned to Nigeria, where she is now based managing PDP activities and pretending to be running the affairs of NIDO UK from Makurdi, Benue State.
We are not against anyone joining a political party but we feel that an individual who wants to engage in active politics in Nigeria should not be leading an organisation such as NIDO or be based back in Nigeria. The organisation should not be put in this ugly and unpalatable position.
The Diasporans need a leader who will champion and lead their causes, and provide effective representation and not one that is seeking to advance her political ambition to the detriment of the members and organisation.
It is ironic that Hon Susan Waya in her position as chairperson of NIDO UK South took part in events to mark Diaspora Day on 25th July 2022 with the federal government and NIDCOM and at the same time, has been actively working for the opposition party in their attempt to win the 2023 General elections. She appears to be eating from two sides of the mouth.
This has been a charade, attention seeking and desperation by someone who is seeking recognition at all costs.
Why would anyone who has been parading herself as representing Nigerians in the Diaspora at meetings with NIDCOM officials, government ministers and heads of state parastatals and singing their praises and at the same time breath align herself with the opposition party by taking a prominent and leading role in their campaign team.
After failing to secure the PDP gubernatorial ticket for Benue state, Susan Waya has set her eyes to be the next chairman of NIDCOM and replace the current chairman, Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
A Stitch in Time Saves Nine.
