Hakeem Babalola

Quite number of Nigerians in Hungary are not happy that the 48th National Day celebration of their country was marked strictly by invitation at a top hotel in Budapest. This group of Nigerians has questioned the rationale behind such closed door initiative which they simply called discriminatory gesture. 

The embassy which seemed taken aback that some Nigerians could be furious for not being invited has since reacted. Minister Plenipotentiary/Head of Chancery, Olutola John Onijala in a telephone chat, advised them to write a letter of complaint and send it to the ambassador.

"They can write a letter and inform us of their complaint that they were left out,” said Onijala. He further stated that the embassy invited those it thought were among the Nigerian community here.

When asked about the criteria for being invited, Onijala explained: "If somebody is registered with the embassy, Nigerian Union executive members, and normally it is at the discretion of the embassy". However, there are some who claimed they did register with the embassy even before the present crops of diplomats but were not invited.

The situation was different elsewhere. The Nigeria Embassy at Switzerland had an open invitation for its citizens to celebrate similar festival which was also held at a top hotel in that country. According to a reliable source, the Nigerian ambassador in that region, H.E. Martin J. Uhomoibhi, received many Nigerians in Switzerland to celebrate the event with them.

On that Onijala said that the embassy would have organized a party for the Nigerian community in Hungary on a different day but lack resources to do so. But such explanation was dismissed as hogwash by a Nigerian woman who accused the embassy of treating Nigeria’s National Day as family affairs.

"They (the embassy staff) parked themselves together in an atmosphere supposed to be graced by Nigerian citizens in Hungary," she groaned, adding that if that was the case, why did the embassy hold party for the students separately? Is it because some of their fathers are ministers? Another Nigerian quipped, "If it is true that the embassy invited students separately then it is wrong. It is wrong because not only Nigerian students live in Hungary".

Although Tunde Adeosun believed there was nothing wrong because of security to have the celebration exclusively for ambassadors, high commissioners and others; he berated the embassy for what he called "the selection of a few Nigerians". Unable to hide his anger, Adeosun, a former Union Committee member, declared that the embassy err for that single action, adding that to hear our Independence Day celebration from those who attended it undermines whatever the embassy stands for.

"We are not calling for party every month," he said. "It is our Independence Day, a great opportunity for the embassy to know Nigerians and their families living in Hungary. Also, it would have been a perfect moment for Nigerians to meet each other. It couldn't have cost that much for our embassy?"

Whilst the embassy was forthcoming in explaining its decision, Nigerian Union president, Felix Omoregbee, appeared vague in his response. He seemed not to grasp the gravity of such accusation as he chose to treat it with levity. He simply thanked this writer for such observation adding, "Please try to attend the Union General Meeting always to hear more on such topics as a bona fide member of the Union".

Those who felt betrayed by the Union president for dinning with embassy officials at their expense reminded him of his promise before being "selected" as the Union president. "I know the time is coming when he will be forced to remember us," said a former Union Committee member. "That is when he will be campaigning to be re-elected".

A Nigerian student who attended the party offered to explain why many Nigerians may have been disregarded. He said the embassy might have feared the repercussion of inviting many Nigerians to such occasion where ambassadors, foreign ministry officials and other dignitaries were present.

"You know Nigerians especially the illiterates are unpredictable on occasions like that," he asserted. "So it's better to protect the image of our country in the presence of ambassadors and other important personalities.

Copyright 2008

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Robot  # 1 | 04.12.2008 01:10

Quite number of Nigerians in Hungary are not happy that the 48th National Day celebration of their country was marked strictly by invitation at a top hotel in Budapest. This group of Nigerians has questioned the rationale behind such closed door initiative which they simply called discriminatory gesture....Read the full article.

chanchaga  # 2 | 04.12.2008 06:10

The invitation to mark the 48th birthday of Nigeria is not an issue. It should not take precedence over the primary functions for the Embassy. What is the function of the diplomatic mission abroad? I look into wikipedia for a brief quote “The role of such a mission is to protect in the receiving State the interests of the sending State and of its nationals, within the limits permitted by international law; negotiating with the Government of the receiving State as directed by the sending State; ascertaining by lawful means conditions and developments in the receiving State, and reporting thereon to the Government of the sending State; promoting friendly relations between the sending State and the receiving State, and developing their economic, cultural and scientific relations.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embassy There are numerous other functions but I cannot seem to pin point what they are doing to help the image of Nigeria abroad. They have been used as entertainment centres for receiving visitors from home. We have not seen any physical development attributed to them. Nigerians in diasporas like me and millions of others view the missions as a money making agency via visa/passport applications, entertainment centres, and guest houses for government officials, Chancery staff and their families and an extension of Nigeria’s chaotic environment. We have no choice because we have seen nothing favourable in terms of bilateral trade, improving relations and protecting its citizens abroad. I might be naïve to think in this manner but I cannot be blamed because what you see is what you get in this case. Diplomatic mission officials are invited for award nights, lunchings parties and other felicitations. Who is who affairs. Hundreds of Nigerians are put in jails abroad and in some cases, they might not be properly represented legally. In many cases, the authorities know that the Nigerian missions are not too willing to intervene. It took one year and six months for Osamuyia’s body to be flown back home after he was killed by the immigration authorities in Spain. As a Nigerian travelling abroad, one fact remains. You are on your own if anything happens to you. Do not expect help from the mission. You must have family and friends in any country you are travelling to so that you can receive help in case of difficulties. We all seem to look the other way when we hear horror stories of people in transit abroad. If you are reading this mail, you are either abroad, about to travel or will travel in the near future. Just close your eyes and imagine it is you in trouble.

chrisog300@yahoo.com  # 3 | 04.12.2008 08:09

You are absolutely more than right! the nigerian embassies abroad especially the one in china, is worst place you can ask a nigerian to go and get help! its just an extension of ministry of commerce, no money no help!and God have mercy on you if dont have anyone at the top who speak the same language or from the same tribe like u!The only business that they know better is visa racketting, As many nigerians are languishing in jail over immigration problem, the look the other way! the little state secret nigeria have the sell it for a poridge! sometimes, it baffles you how they arrange some incoseqential chinese to meet any of our president when they are here without due process, once they are given $200 they are ready to go any length to sell nigeria out! could you imagine a chinese telling you to your face that nigeria is now afrcicas weakest country? and when i ask him to explain futher, he said that its only nigeria that dont care for its citizen when they are in problem , and when i asked futher i found out the man talking to me was a police man!Sorry my fellow nigerians! Infact, oyo is name of nigeria embassies abroad!

britroyal1  # 4 | 04.12.2008 09:22

"You know Nigerians especially the illiterates are unpredictable on occasions like that," he asserted. "So it's better to protect the image of our country in the presence of ambassadors and other important personalities." As snobbish as this statement is, I have tears in my eyes from uncontrollable laughter; but honestly speaking, I don't see the need for much hullabaloo over this. Invitation to an embassy event is at the discretion of embassy officials. I'm not sure if the American Embassy throws wide open their embassy to ALL Americans in foreign countries on the 4th of July now. People can host their own private celebrations. So people cannot enjoy Independence day without government sanction? Is government the answer to everything? Abeg...

lateesha  # 5 | 04.12.2008 11:21

A Nigerian student who attended the party offered to explain why many Nigerians may have been disregarded. He said the embassy might have feared the repercussion of inviting many Nigerians to such occasion where ambassadors, foreign ministry officials and other dignitaries were present. "You know Nigerians especially the illiterates are unpredictable on occasions like that," he asserted. "So it's better to protect the image of our country in the presence of ambassadors and other important personalities. Look at this ignorant statement from a party attendant.What a shame.

lateesha  # 6 | 04.12.2008 11:38

=chrisog300@yahoo.com;296672>You are absolutely more than right! the nigerian embassies abroad especially the one in china, is worst place you can ask a nigerian to go and get help! its just an extension of ministry of commerce, no money no help!and God have mercy on you if dont have anyone at the top who speak the same language or from the same tribe like u!The only business that they know better is visa racketting, As many nigerians are languishing in jail over immigration problem, the look the other way! the little state secret nigeria have the sell it for a poridge! sometimes, it baffles you how they arrange some incoseqential chinese to meet any of our president when they are here without due process, once they are given $200 they are ready to go any length to sell nigeria out! could you imagine a chinese telling you to your face that nigeria is now afrcicas weakest country? and when i ask him to explain futher, he said that its only nigeria that dont care for its citizen when they are in problem , and when i asked futher i found out the man talking to me was a police man!Sorry my fellow nigerians! Infact, oyo is name of nigeria embassies abroad! My experiences with Nigerian embassies can fill a book. Blatant tribalism . Sometime ago we went to New York embassy to renew our NIgerian passports,the high commissioner was from a particular tribe in Nigeria and so was everybody else that worked under him,at least from what I saw. Come and see "man know man".some clients just went up to the window and spoke their language,you're attended to while the rest of us patiently waited and waited.2 stupid men were almost about to slug it out like 2 motor park agboros,Tufia. Then some other time,I visited a different embassy.Everyone spoke Igbo,the same "man know man" The attendant at the window named Ngozi was so rude and unprofessional. Some people were taken right upstairs when they arrived,they were too big to take a number and stand in line like us little people. At some point while we all waited,they went on a "staff meeting" for a whole 2 1/2 hours :eek::eek::eek:we waited for them to return from a meeting that could have been any other time afterall they stopped receiving clients at about 2 PM daily. They don't take personal checks They don't take credit or debit cards They don't take cash You have to go out and fish out a place to buy money order and then "stand" in line again waiting. Nigeria is almost hopeless. Only God can help us.

bakoso2000  # 7 | 04.12.2008 11:57

I am not you brother or sister if you cannot be a good ambassador of Nigeria abroad. Don’t call me when you get into trouble. A lot of recent immigrants from Nigeria will do anything for money in their host countries and when they get into trouble that it when they remember that they are Nigerians and they want the embassy or other law-abiding Nigerians to bail them out. If you are a drug curriers and identity stealing Nigerians or other get-rich-quick scam artists, when you get caught, you are sure on your own. A lot of innocent Nigerians get tarred with the same brush and are made to suffer for your sins. Certainly, the ambassador is under no obligation inviting a Nigerian whose source of living is unknown or immigration status, questionable to an embassy event. Rather if you commit felony, the ambassador should only be keen to help the host country speed up your repatriation home before you cause further embarrassment.

Auspicious  # 8 | 04.12.2008 11:58

=lateesha;296742>My experiences with Nigerian embassies can fill a book. Blatant tribalism . Sometime ago we went to New York embassy to renew our NIgerian passports,the high commissioner was from a particular tribe in Nigeria and so was everybody else that worked under him,at least from what I saw. Come and see "man know man".some clients just went up to the window and spoke their language,you're attended to while the rest of us patiently waited and waited.2 stupid men were almost about to slug it out like 2 motor park agboros,Tufia. Then some other time,I visited a different embassy.Everyone spoke Igbo,the same "man know man" The attendant at the window named Ngozi was so rude and unprofessional. Some people were taken right upstairs when they arrived,they were too big to take a number and stand in line like us little people. At some point while we all waited,they went on a "staff meeting" for a whole 2 1/2 hours :eek::eek::eek:we waited for them to return from a meeting that could have been any other time afterall they stopped receiving clients at about 2 PM daily. They don't take personal checks They don't take credit or debit cards They don't take cash You have to go out and fish out a place to buy money order and then "stand" in line again waiting. Nigeria is almost hopeless. Only God can help us. I don't know any people who take the particular joy of being cruel to themselves like the unenlightened amongst us. Rather than work to strenghting us as Nigerians - as black people - they ignorantly allow their inferiority complex to consume them and weaken us collectively while they remain local champions. Who wins at the end of the day? Those who once kept us as slaves, of course. For them, as far as they are concerned, we are all the same "sub-pars" - including the local champions in power too: at the bank, at the post-office, at the embassies, at the Governor's Mansion, at Aso Rock...etc. It is a painful reality to confront. I wonder if my generation will ever witness the rise of the black people beyond individual progress like the Obamas et al... Right now, the only semblance of success in the fight against corruption is being humiliated around town in Nigeria while the so-called educated amongst us are celebrating his travails.. Sigh.. Auspicious.

lateesha  # 9 | 04.12.2008 12:59

=bakoso2000;296752>I am not you brother or sister if you cannot be a good ambassador of Nigeria abroad. Don’t call me when you get into trouble. A lot of recent immigrants from Nigeria will do anything for money in their host countries and when they get into trouble that it when they remember that they are Nigerians and they want the embassy or other law-abiding Nigerians to bail them out. If you are a drug curriers and identity stealing Nigerians or other get-rich-quick scam artists, when you get caught, you are sure on your own. A lot of innocent Nigerians get tarred with the same brush and are made to suffer for your sins. Certainly, the ambassador is under no obligation inviting a Nigerian whose source of living is unknown or immigration status, questionable to an embassy event. Rather if you commit felony, the ambassador should only be keen to help the host country speed up your repatriation home before you cause further embarrassment. From your response sir,I take it that you work at one if the embassies/High commission. No one is calling you to come bail them out of jail.All we are asking is that you folks don't take the same tribalistic and unprofessional attitude that has ruined your country and mine and transport it to your offices here in the west. It's quite a rude shock to some of us who have lived here a while and worked in a civilized soceity to arrive at our embassies for a visa to Nigeria and be reminded of the same ills we witnessed back home. In America everyone is treated equally.You folks have no right to tell me to go home and wait for my passport with visa to be mailed while I hear someone else told in Igbo to wait and his passport would be given to him in a few hours.That is not right.It is the Nigerian way but it is wrong. Secondly,you cannot shut down your ears to your country men because some of them commit crimes.Are you folks incapable of handling the cases on a case by case basis such that every person arrested is a criminal ? Have you never heard of such thing as wrongful arrests? The Nigerian high commision may be located in North West DC,Atlanta and NY but the only difference between those offices and Nigeria is that we don't see hungry policemen collecting twenty twenty naira but I saw everything else.:sad::sad::sad:

bakoso2000  # 10 | 04.12.2008 14:33

Lateesha, you said and l quote, "From your response sir,I take it that you work at one if the embassies/High commission." Let me disappoint you...l do not work for a Nigerian embassy neither do l make excuses for their failures. For those who have sought legitimate help and had been poorly served, yes they have every reason to be disappointed and to complain. However, my statement is addressed to the criminals and scoundrels posing as Nigerians and causing trouble, commiting crime and expecting a bail out. To that horde, l have no apologies. Let them roast in the the fire they set for themselves.

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