Pastor Peters Osawaru Omoragbon, General-Secretary of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), UK Chapter, has raised concerns over the disruptive activities of fifth columnists within the Europe-based Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE). Omoragbon, who also chairs the Health Committee of NIDO UKC, highlighted the threat in a statement released to the media on Friday, November 14, 2025.
“In the complex landscape of diaspora politics, international relations, and organisational growth, a subtle but potent threat emerges the Fifth Columnist,” Omoragbon said. “A Fifth Columnist is not an open critic. They work secretly to undermine the group, advancing personal agendas or serving external interests. For a growing organisation like NIDOE, their presence is more than an inconvenience; it is an existential danger that can stall progress.”
Omoragbon called on the leadership to respond with moral authority, stressing that integrity, transparency, and strategic vision are essential to keeping subversive elements in check. “Leaders must communicate openly, engage members continuously, and let performance and transparency isolate saboteurs without confrontation,” he explained.
He identified factors that allow fifth columnists to thrive, including NIDOE’s dispersed structure across multiple European countries, which makes centralized oversight difficult. Members’ diverse personal, professional, and political motivations can be exploited, and imported domestic rivalries from Nigeria can create factions acting in self-interest rather than for the collective good.
Omoragbon also outlined the strategies used by fifth columnists to weaken the organisation: spreading misinformation, manipulating narratives, sabotaging coalitions, diverting resources, and undermining reputations. He warned that such actions lead to stunted organisational growth, persistent internal conflict, erosion of trust and morale, and loss of credibility with key stakeholders, including governments, international partners, and potential donors.
“The most corrosive effect is the destruction of mutual trust. Cynicism rises, participation drops, and the volunteer spirit the lifeblood of any diaspora organisation suffers. External partners lose confidence when they see public infighting, and factions may splinter off, diluting the collective voice of Nigerians in Europe,” Omoragbon said, citing recent disputes during NIDOE’s AGM as examples.
To counter these threats, Omoragbon urged NIDOE to institutionalize resilience through clear mission focus, transparent communication, and strong governance structures. “Reinforce the organisation’s purpose and communicate all decisions publicly to prevent misinformation. Enforce codes of conduct, financial accountability, and independent disciplinary oversight. Promote a culture of loyalty to the institution’s ideals, not to personalities, and empower members to report divisive behaviour while respecting healthy debate,” he said.
Omoragbon stressed that strategic focus on tangible projects and measurable outcomes is critical. “Success is the best antidote to sabotage. Delivering concrete results unites members and exposes the emptiness of the Fifth Columnist’s criticisms. Leadership should concentrate on programs and projects, and let results speak louder than insults,” he added.
He concluded by warning that certain members acting as spies or spreading misleading narratives could jeopardize the organisation’s unity. “Recognizing this threat is the first step. Building a transparent, mission-focused, and united organisation is the next. The future influence of the Nigerian diaspora in Europe depends on winning this quiet struggle from within,” Omoragbon said.
