Eze Eluchie explains why he thinks tobacco control advocates should boycott the upcoming meeting in Dakar, sponsored by IDRC if Barbara McDougall (a Director of Imperial Tobacco Canada) remains as Chair and member of the Board of IDRC. He calls for her immediate resignation.
In view of the conflict of interests occasioned by the presence of Ms. Barbara McDougall on the Board of Governors of IDRC at a time when the said IDRC is planning a meeting for African Tobacco Control advocates in collaboration with ATCA, I call upon Ms. Barbara McDougall to immediately resign her membership of the Board of Governors of the IDRC
Failure of the said Ms. Barbara McDougall to so resign and in the event of the IDRC not being able to relieve her of her position on its Board, I call upon all true African Tobacco Control entities (organizations and or individuals) and ATCA, to boycott the proposed IDRC sponsored meeting for TC Advocates scheduled for Dakar in April 2010.
It is morally reprehensible and indefensible for persons purporting to be committed to the course of tobacco control to hobnob and pretend to be understudying tobacco control strategies from an organization that has on its Board, Executives/Officials of multinational tobacco conglomerates.
What moral authority, will any organization that continues with the proposed April meeting ever have to condemn recipients of Tobacco Industry funds under whatever guise. Let’s prove that tobacco control activists in Africa can rise above the mundane and demand accountability in global tobacco control leadership.
Regards
Eze Eluchie, Esq
Executive Director
People Against Drug Dependence & Ignorance (PADDI Foundation)
1st Bus Stop Road
(Kilometer 4, Owerri – Onitsha Road)
Irete, Owerri
Imo State
Nigeria
Tel: 234-83-303686
234-8023237448
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