FGN accuses Nigerians in diaspora of funding secessionist groups - ITREALMS

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has accused some Nigerians in Diaspora of funding secessionist groups, reports ITREALMS.

The government made this accusation through the Federal Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed during an audience he granted members of the United Kingdom (UK) chapter of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Abuja, Tuesday.

The secessionist agitators, Mohammed said relied on financial contributions of Nigerians in diaspora to fund their nefarious activities.

“This is disheartening," he lamented, noting that the avoidable division among Nigerians in Diaspora in some countries gave rise to these agitations, mainly because the agitators leverages propagation of fake news which is largely believed by diaspora citizens.

"It is in recognition of the relevance of Nigerians in Diaspora that the secessionist groups that are campaigning around the world for their causes have identified and are effectively using some of them (Nigerians in Diaspora) to propagate their fake narratives about the country,” he decried.

Lai Mohammed further lamented that “Instead of contributing their own quota to these efforts, all you hear from a section of Nigerians in Diaspora and their allies back home are fake narratives and untrue allegations of religious persecution, political marginalization, human rights abuses, etc.”

According to him, these are baseless and false, urging NIDO to leverage its contacts in government circles, parliamentary groups and global think tanks in world capitals to help change the narrative and sweep the carpet off the feet of secessionist groups, insurgents and anarchists who are bent on pushing false narratives to portray Nigeria in bad light.

“I have no doubt that you will take this call seriously and do everything in your power to change the narrative for the better,” he charged.

However, he said his team will not relent in seeking out and engaging with patriotic Nigerians in Diaspora, while assuring that FG is currently re-engineering and ramping up the diplomatic efforts to counter and reverse the narrative, in addition to countering pervasive anti-government propaganda.

“Once again, I thank you, members of the UK Chapter of NIDO, and congratulate you for your patriotic Initiative - A week in Nigeria & For Nigeria,” he said.

Nenye Dom/Editor