Erelu Lola Ayonrinde
The former Mayor of the London Borough of Wandsworth - Alderman Erelu Lola Ayonrinde has criticised the fact that no woman was selected among the two Europe-based Nigerians who will represent the Diaspora at Nigeria's National Conference which kicks off in Abuja next week.
She also noted that the two nominees are from the UK, leaving out other Diaspora Nigerians in other parts of Europe.
According to Ayonrinde, "Sadly, the two seats allocated to Nigerians in Europe seems to have been allocated to two gentlemen resident in the UK. Surely Europe has more nations than the UK. Likewise, it is totally disgraceful that those who nominated delegates could not find one single female - old or young."
"When will representative democracy become a reality amongst Nigerians in or outside of Nigeria," she queried.
The list of participants in the conference released by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation last week announced Chief Adebayo Oladimeji and Mr Christian C Udechukwu as representatives for Europe. Oladimeji, a former President of the defunct Nigerian National Union (NNU) is the Chair of the Nigerian Council of Elders in the UK while London-based Udechukwu is the CEO of Business In Africa Events (BIAE).
The two representatives have scheduled an interactive evening in North West London for tomorrow (Thursday 13 March) - to take views from the community for presentation at the National Conference.