The West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) has called on the general public to beware of Fake WACSOF parading themselves as a new executive that does not even exist to defraud innocent citizens in Nigeria and beyond.
In a statement issued by the board of directors of WACSOF led by the chair BUBA KHAN, supported by the Coordinators of the National Platforms of WACSOF in all West African countries, except the one from Nigeria who is part of these xenophobic, illegal and terrorist activities with some staff members like Ebele Agbata said that, the fake group in the recent time has used xenophobic practices in Nigeria to intimidate and threaten with death the legitimate representatives of WACSOF.
According to the Press statement, It has been brought to the attention of WACSOF that certain ill-intentioned individuals are sending and publishing messages referring to a supposed new Secretary General at WACSOF from a so-called executive committee that does not even exist anymore.
“We wish to bring to the attention of the public and members that these messages come from individuals who, in disregard of legality and legitimacy, have voluntarily taken the side to destabilize WACSOF for personal interests.
“This is a group of individuals who deceive the public, notably Ms. MARGARET UDOH who wants to employ her son at WACSOF and who uses xenophobic practices in Nigeria to intimidate and threaten with death the legitimate representatives of WACSOF.
“She is helped in this task, among others by Mr. DIONISIO PEREIRA, a member of the defunct executive committee. These individuals who claim to act on behalf of a defunct “executive committee” were elected in August 2016 for a mandate of two (02) years, renewable once.
“Their mandate has ended since 2018, but they are striving to force a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th mandate, by creating crises not to leave, thus wanting to take FOSCAO hostage, strangely in a period where Civil Society is fighting for a term limit for heads of state in Africa.
“In its quest to work with everyone, WACSOF has always favoured dialogue. It is important to remember that all attempts to discuss with these individuals, to find a peaceful solution to the crisis which safeguards the best interests of our organization, have ended in failure.
“Faced with such actions which seriously harm the interests and image of our organization, WACSOF calls on the public to be vigilant in relation to these FAKE NEWS and invites them, in the most solemn way, not to take these confusing messages into account and would like to remind you of the following points.
“In scrupulous compliance with its statutory and regulatory texts, after the renewal of all WACSOF national platforms in all countries, and following the General Assembly of June 30, 2022, in Benin, WACSOF now has a new legitimate and legal Board of Directors chaired by Mr. BUBA KHAN (Chair@WacsofFoscao.Org / 220 345 4716), solidly supported in the ECOWAS countries with competent coordinators and coordination teams. This new Board is a balanced team of men and women, recognized for their experience, commitment, professionalism, sense of duty, and moral values.
“MR. BUBA KHAN, President, Consultant, Ex Coordinator, ActionAid advocacy, GAMBIA; MRS JOSEPHINE ALABI, 1st Vice-President, Activist, Peace & Security, KEEN & CARE INITIATIVE, NIGERIA; MR. ANDRE AFANOU KANGNI, 2nd Vice-President, lawyer, & journalist, regional coordinator CCPR TOGO; DR PENDA MBOW, activist, Former minister. University professor, president, of the citizen movement, SENEGAL; DR. HUCO MONTEIRO, Secretary, Former ECOWAS Commissioner, GUINEA BISSAU And MR. JEDLEE KINNI, Treasurer, Coordinator Liberian African Youth Peer Review Committee, LIBERIA”
The Statement added that; “This board confirmed Mr. KOMLAN MESSIE, Eng., M.SC., MBA (km@Wacsof-Foscao.Org, +234 814 438 0226 (WhatsApp)), continuing his role as the REGIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WACSOF. It is useful to remember that, socially involved, Mr. Komlan Messie is an Engineer (from the École Polytechnique de Thies), holds a Master’s degree (M. Sc) in Computer Science (from the École Polytechnique de Montréal,
Canada), an MBA from HEC Montréal (Canada), and a PMP certification. After more than 20 years with distinctions in Canada developing businesses, getting involved socially, and creating NGOs, he joined WACSOF with the mandate and ambition to restructure the ailing organization. With his team, he transformed WACSOF, bringing more opportunities and impactful projects for citizens.
“At a time when African youth are fighting for their liberation and to escape, among other things, constitutional manipulations for a 3rd mandate of heads of state in several countries, Civil Society must be exemplary in its governance from all points of view.
“WACSOF invites these ill-intentioned individuals and their acolytes to cease their harmful actions, in order to turn the page on this unfortunate crisis created and maintained to build instead of destroy, and to focus together on the issues of the day in our region and in Africa in a worrying global context.
“WACSOF would like to apologize to the public for the confusion created by some very ill-intentioned individuals. In view of the problems caused by these individuals, guided solely by crypto-personal interests, who are using xenophobic methods from another era, WACSOF would also like to reassure the public that it is working responsibly to overcome this deliberately created crisis and to reposition the organization on the path mapped out for it by its governing bodies.”
The statement added that, “On the eve of the general assembly which should renew the former executive committee, with the sole aim of remaining in office, these individuals from the defunct executive committee created an artificial crisis by accusing, curiously without audit, with methods terrorists and xenophobes, by making unjustified accusations against the executive director.
“The WACSOF board of directors and the national platforms renewed their confidence in Mr. KOMLAN MESSIE
“The national WACSOF platforms do not, under any circumstances, recognize the opportunistic and ill-intentioned individuals like KOPEP DABUGAT, known to have always created and entertained crises with former secretaries general of the WACSOF. WACSOF invites these ill-intentioned individuals including MARGARET UDOH, DIONISIO PEREIRA, KPOEP DABUGAT as well as their acolytes to stop their harmful actions, in order to turn the page on this unfortunate crisis created and maintained, to concentrate together on the issues of hour in our sub-region and in Africa, in a worrying global context (multidimensional crisis almost everywhere).
“An audit will very soon be carried out by a reputable firm in order to verify these serious allegations which have very seriously damaged the reputation of WACSOF and negatively impacted its operation and activities.”