The global president of the National Association of Nigerian Students in Diaspora (NANS D) has publicly disowned a statement issued by the president of the Nigerian Association in the Australian Capital Territory (NAACT), saying it was made without authorisation, consultation or collective input from the association's leadership or members.
Comrade Chris Juwon Fayomi, in a statement issued yesterday, said the position expressed by Ogbonnaya Francis did not represent NAACT in any capacity. "Let it be made unequivocally clear that the statement does not represent NAACT. It was issued without approval. Ogbonnaya Francis acted entirely on his own," Fayomi said.
He described the development as disappointing, noting that no Nigerian community state president across Australia had taken a similar position, making Francis' action an isolated one. Fayomi also questioned the timing and motivation behind the statement, pointing out that Francis had remained notably silent on issues of direct consequence to Nigerians in Australia, including increases in service charges. "This inconsistency raises serious questions about motive, judgment and representation," he said.
The NANS D president clarified that NAACT was neither consulted nor involved in the matter at the centre of the dispute, and that the issue fell outside the association's mandate entirely. He reaffirmed confidence in his own leadership, stating that his advocacy reflected the genuine concerns of Nigerian students abroad, supported by verifiable public feedback.
Fayomi directed a message to the Ambassador's office, specifically referencing Jane Adam Bassey, urging a prioritisation of unity among Nigerians in Australia through open and direct engagement rather than reliance on individuals acting without a mandate. He warned that using such individuals for damage control risked deepening divisions and eroding trust within the community.
"Dialogue, not deflection, is the path forward," he said.
