For two hours on Wednesday night, few Nigerians who paid their last respect to Ambassador Gershon Guyit heard nothing but eulogies during a prayer session held at his official residence in Budapest. The 62-year-old Ambassador died in Nigeria on Monday in a motor accident on his way to Abuja. Friends, diplomats and family took turn to remember his virtues in such a manner that gives credence to the axiom: never speaks ills of the dead.

At a point I wondered whether the same encomium would be recited when people like Alamieyesegha, Dariye and Tafa Baloguns of this world finally answer the last call. They described his humility and his vision for Nigeria and Nigerians in Hungary as second to none. “He is the first real ambassador we have,” said Daniel Prebor, a driver who had served two other Ambassadors. Although most of the speakers referred to him as a visionary, none was able to mention any particular achievement during the late Ambassador's seventeen months in office. When asked why he was such a gem, their answer was pure hypothetical, saying "So you don't know him?"

Dedan Lot Madugu, the Charge d’ Affaires described him as someone so informed, so blessed with leadership qualities than many career diplomats. “In my 24 years in foreign service, never been so close to any of my boss,” he said. “We have lost a gem,” adding that he did not know that His Excellency was actually saying his final departure two weeks ago when “he told me to take care of the Mission”.

In his own remarks, Hon. Sammy Charles, said that he had learnt a lot from the deceased despite his own fifteen years of political experience. He described the late Ambassador as someone with the great virtues of humility and kindness who was ever willing to assist. “For him [Guyit], there is no difference between people,” he said. “First time the embassy is open for Nigerians. He went on to say how great he was, and how he used to discuss "the development of our nation".

The consular, Mrs Esther Olaitan Ogundipe chose to praise the wife whom she described as simple and strong. She reminded the gathering about a popular adage, which says behind every successful man, is a woman. “There’s a deep sorrow in my heart.”

None Nigerians were also there to pay their last respect. Joao Miguel Vahekeni, Angolan Ambassador to Hungary expressed his shock when he heard the news. He spoke about how they met a year ago, how their friendship grew stronger, and especially about their plans for Africans in Hungary. “We were planning to create African Day. We want African community to become stronger.”

The deceased eldest son, Mr. Longben Guyit, who had travelled to Hungary from his base in America stirred emotions as he took a nostalgic stroll down memory lane with occasional tears. He described his late father as a “perfectionist, almost genius who kept everything”. He also told us that his father was a poet, a painter, and an artist who used to carry guitar during his University days at ABU. He joked about how he could not withstand the pressure of matching up his father’s academic prowess as the reason for not studying architecture at ABU where the deceased was well known even after he had left the University. “He is a man who says things that can be edged in stones,” said Longbenas as he cleaned his eyes with the back of his palm. "I'm crying but I'm happy."

He said further that he was not surprised by the good things people were saying about “my father because he is simply a good man, who loves children and his community." Then he paused for a long moment to ask: "Do you know what my father would have told you tonight? He would have told you not to be afraid to speak the truth. That is what he would have told you.

At this moment, although I had been listening to everyone who eulogised the late Ambassador, I was nonetheless occupied with my own prejudice. These people, would they have said the same thing about any public officer irrespective of whether or not such officer had performed his or her duties while alive? I looked around for an answer, especially that moment when Longben mentioned the word truth. Have they been speaking the truth in its absolute and radiant form?

Robot  Villager

# 1 images/stories/article_images_1/Gershon%20Guyit%203.For two hours on Wednesday night, few Nigerians who paid their last respect to Ambassador Gershon Guyit heard no...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 22.12.2005 20:29