Omoragbon decries presence of fifth columnist in NIDOE … Recommends leadership with moral authority

Pastor Peters Osawaru Omoragbon, the General Secretary of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, UK Chapter, has decried the unsavoury activities of the fifth columnist in the Europe based organisation.

Omoragbon who is also the Chairman, Health Committee-NIDO UKC, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe NIDOE, took the position in a statement circulated to the media on Friday, November 14, 2025.

He said, “In the complex landscape of diaspora politics, international relations, and organisational growth, a potent and often overlooked threat emerges: the Fifth Columnist.

“A Fifth Columnist is an individual or faction who secretly undermines a larger group from within, working to aid an external enemy or a competing internal agenda. Unlike open critics or constructive dissenters, their actions are characterised by deception, subversion, and a fundamental betrayal of the organisation’s core principles. For a growing organisation like NIDOE, the presence of such elements is not merely an inconvenience; it is an existential danger that can cripple its potential.”

Omoragbon while condemning the activities of the fifth columnist inside NIDOE, proposed that the only panacea to the activities of the nefarious fraction was for the leadership of the group to lead with moral authority, this he said would put the fifth columnist in check. “Leadership with Moral Authority: The leadership must exemplify the highest standards of integrity, selflessness, and strategic vision. They must be communicators-in-chief, constantly engaging the base and isolating saboteurs not through confrontation, but through superior performance and transparency,” he said.

Omoragbon clearly itemized factors which make it possible for the fifth columnist to thrive which include
Dispersed Structure, meaning that NIDOE has various chapters across different European countries, therefore centralised oversight is challenging, creating fertile ground for rogue actors to operate with relative autonomy.

“Members have varied personal, professional, and political motivations. This diversity, while a strength, can be exploited by those with narrow, self-serving interests.

“NIDOE interfaces with the Nigerian government, international bodies, and corporate entities. This attracts individuals seeking influence, contracts, or political patronage, not necessarily the organisation’s success.

“Domestic Nigerian political and ethnic rivalries can be imported into the diaspora, with some members acting as proxies for factions back home, rather than for a unified Nigerian cause,” he said.

Speaking on the different strategies deployed by the Fifth Columnist, Omoragbon disclosed that their methods are insidious and designed to erode trust and cohesion which they achieve through Information Sabotage, Narrative Weaponisation; Coalition Sabotage; Resource Diversion; and Reputation Assassination.

He said that the activities of the fifth columnist pose severe dangers which might lead to stunted Organisational Growth, Constant internal wrangling which would definitely paralyze decision-making, adding that instead of launching impactful projects in education, healthcare, or investment, NIDOE would become mired in endless crisis management, failing to deliver value to its members or to Nigeria.

“There would be Erosion of Trust and Morale: The most corrosive effect is the destruction of mutual trust. Members become cynical, participation drops, and the volunteer spirit—the lifeblood of any diaspora organisation-withers. Potential new members are deterred by the visible dysfunction.

“There would be Loss of Credibility with Stakeholders: When external partners—be it the Nigerian Presidency, the European Union, or potential donors-see an organisation plagued by public infighting and leaks, they lose confidence. NIDOE’s ability to serve as a credible and effective liaison is severely compromised.

“Fragmentation and Factionalisation: The ultimate success of a Fifth Columnist is the splintering of the organisation. Disillusioned members may break away to form rival groups, diluting the collective power and voice of the Nigerian diaspora in Europe. It has already happened as demonstrated with the parallel AGM organised by another set of NIDO members claiming to be NIDOE. Currently, it is showing its ugly head in one of the viable chapters within this NIDOE during our last AGM with the two camps trying to outsmart each by shouting and boos,” he disclosed.

Omoragbon said that to mitigate this threats, NIDOE must be proactive and make sure it institutionalises resilience which comes with Clarity of Mission and Transparent Communication: Reinforce the core mission relentlessly. All activities and decisions must be publicly and transparently communicated through official channels, leaving no vacuum for misinformation to thrive.

“Robust Governance Structures: Implement and enforce clear codes of conduct, term limits, and financial accountability measures. Establish independent ethics or disciplinary committees to investigate allegations of sabotage fairly. The current leadership of NIDOE must be firm and assertive in promoting constitutional order in line with the mandate given to him in Greece in 2024 and reaffirmed at Poland on the 8th of November 2025.

“Cultivate a Culture of Trust and Vigilance: Encourage a culture where members are loyal to the institution’s ideals, not to personalities. Empower members to call out divisive behaviour while respecting the difference between healthy debate and malicious subversion.

“Strategic Focus on Deliverables: Keep the organisation focused on concrete, measurable projects that yield tangible benefits. Success is the best antidote to sabotage; it unites members and exposes the emptiness of the Fifth Columnist’s criticisms. That is why I shall keep honing this to our Chairman, to be focussed on projects and programs and ignore any thing to the contrary. If not in another year from now, he would have completed a tenure. What would be his scorecard? Results terminate insults.

“The growth and impact of NIDOE are not inevitable. They are the product of deliberate effort, strategic vision, and, crucially, unwavering internal unity. The Fifth Columnist, working in the shadows, seeks to trade this collective potential for personal power. It becomes worrisome when certain members of NIDOE are acting as spies to agents of governments just to present us negatively, for example, sending pictures of the AGM to send the wrong narrative. Recognising this threat is the first step. The next is building an organisation so transparent, so focused on its mission, and so united in its purpose that the seeds of subversion simply cannot take root. The future of a powerful, influential Nigerian diaspora in Europe depends on winning this quiet war from within,” he said.