Sodiq Mojibola
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has kicked against the allegation that the commission was “ethnic biased” in the evacuation of Nigerians from Sudan, saying it is a “wicked lie.”
The commission refuted that the accusation was not cross checked with the Commission’s chairperson, Abike Dabiri, before it was disseminated.
The issue was addressed in a press statement titled ‘Re: South East Coalition accusation of ethnic bias on boarding of citizens stranded in Sudan: a wicked lie,’ signed by the Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, on Wednesday.
NiDCOM disclaimed the allegations, explaining that the commission was forced to use the state of origin arrangement for the evacuation when it became chaotic.
The statement reads: “It has come to the attention of the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) of a fabricated lie from the pit of hell that the Chairman/ CEO, Hon. (Dr) Abike Dabiri- Erewa, prevented some Nigerians, especially of the South East extraction from boarding buses hired by the Federal Government to evacuate stranded Nigerians from the war-torn Khartoum in Sudan.
“The ridiculous allegation which was first published by one Chukwujekwu Ilozue of the Daily Independent Newspapers on May 1, 2023, and syndicated by This Day Newspapers, Nigerian Tribune online and other online media, is the height of rascality and mischief.
“The said group never bothered to cross check the sponsored false story on Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa or get her own side of the story before spreading the falsehood all over the media in the spirit of fairness, balancing and objectivity.
“The allegation by the faceless group, a Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, (COSEYL),
signed by one Hon Goodluck Ibem against the indefatigable Abike Dabiri -Erewa who was busy coordinating the two-day conference of Global African Diaspora Symposium (GADS), with 64 countries in attendance in Abuja, is most wicked, divisive and a ridiculous fabrication.
“Reports from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff on ground in Khartoum, indicated that when the boarding of buses began , the situation was so chaotic that some people (including Non Nigerians) jumped in violently , some with daggers, through the windows . To bring sanity and to abide by the instruction of the Minister of Foreign Affairs that priority should be given to women , children and students, the officials started calling them in according to states in alphabetical order , beginning with Abia State.
“Reports from Sudan indicate that all who converged at the prescribed locations, were to be picked up, have all been moved in 40 buses either towards Port Sudan or towards Egyptian borders.
“However , if some arrived after the stipulated time or did not show up at the point of pick up, they can’t blame it on any one.
“NIDCOM is focussed, working with other relevant agencies ,on the safe return of stranded Nigerians and will not be distracted by nonsensical, illogical , irresponsible , rascal and unfounded comments meant to distract from the success , safe and secure return of Nigerians from Khartoum, Sudan.”
https://twitter.com/nidcom_gov/status/1653355087626993666?t=tdlNzHRlHW91SCQSoVd9FQ&s=19
The allegation making rounds on social media (Twitter) that the commission prevented some ethnic group, “south east especially,” from boarding the evacuation buses was posted on twitter on Monday, where a man lamented his ordeal in Igbo language.
In a post by SportsDokita (Odogwu) @Sports_Doctor2, he said, “This video is heartbreaking, Nigeria just keeps breaking your heart everyday.
I knew something was off when Abike Dabiri said Nigerians being evacuated were arranged according to state of origin.
“Now Igbo’s in Sudan were asked to step down and are still left in Sudan, at the University of Khartoum.
But the plane the others would board from Egypt belongs to an Igbo man!!!!
What is the crime of Igbo’s in this country fgs!!!!”
https://twitter.com/Sports_Doctor2/status/1653026834538287105?t=BiHxYSM-xYaUGaNT4TOgIA&s=19
The video which went viral and attracted varying degrees of reactions from concerned Nigerians prompted the response from the NiDCOM.
In another development, a Twitter post by OPPRESSED @PIDOMNIGERIA, he claimed that the stranded south east men in the viral video have been evacuated from Khartoum, Sudan.
He said, “Update. After backlashing Abike Dabiri, NIDCOM, the foreign Affairs ministry, & FG. A bus was sent this morning at 6am Nigerian time, to evacuate those Igbo’s abandoned in Sudan. They are currently in Khartoum, According to Chibuike OKafor, the man in this viral video. Stay tuned.”
https://twitter.com/PIDOMNIGERIA/status/1653312277850869761?t=T4GHiRl97eDaRBO7ko61mQ&s=19
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