| Aikpitanhi Protest - Updates 3: New York- Nigerian Officials as Spoilers |
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| Written by Taiwo Olorode | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Friday, 29 June 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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NEW YORK UPDATES** Overall I will say today is a great day for all Nigerians (men, women, boys and girls) , we successfully delivered our own copy of the letter to The Spanish Consul General in New York; Juan Manuel (despite his reluctance to receive us)
We read the whole letter to him while he stood in the hall way of his office (Under the watchful eyes of 2 US secret service agents dispatched by; who knows?) he did endorse his signature on the letter acknowledging it was received.
Our day started at 11 am and the first stop was the Nigerian Consulate. Esq. Paul Adujie went up a few elevator flights to retrieve the copy of the letter he had left with our Consul General (Ibrahim Auwalu) for a proper official seal and signature. (yesterday)
While he met with our CG, we continued to distribute the leaflet to as many people as possible. In fact, I was surprised by the attitude of the embassy employees including a few officials (The security people in the Front told us we should neither distribute the leaflets in the building nor paste it anywhere around "our Nigeria House" fixtures). So we were relegated to just a few posters on the side walk, while they wouldn't allow posting or distribution in the building at least one of the security people was nice enough to loan us their stapler gun to carry our leaflet posting elsewhere.
Every now and then few Nigerian officials would swing by to see what we're doing and might even ask what we're doing when we attempted to give them a copy of the fliers some just brushed us away and while others took it and gave you this "I don"t want to be bothered attitude". There was even a lady employee of the consulate who went out of her way to alert security people to remind us not to distribute the leaflet in the building or anywhere around it. (well! you get the Picture..That's a general attitude that permeates our embassies around the globe)
To be fair, there was gentleman who works out our UN mission (simply introduced himself as "Keo") who took the time out to read the leaflet and came back to us a few mins later to sympathize with all Nigerian everywhere and his comments were: I"m proud of what you brothers are doing... it's about time)
Upon retrieving the letter with the official seal, we proceeded on a short 15 min walk to the Spanish Consulate (150 E58th st. NY, NY), where security people and 2 plain clothes gentlemen had been awaiting on our arrival outside the building.
Needles to say we didn't need to introduce ourselves (they knew who we were already), as we approached the building entrance the security guard pointed at us and his words were: "Nigeria?" to which we replied: yes! He later advised us they would only allow two people in the building, that there were special instructions from Spain's Consul General not to allow more than two of us in.
Several attempts made to persuade CG over the phone proved fruitless, he insisted he would only allow 2 people and of course he rejected our demands to capture the event on Camera. He simply stated their Embassy policy was never to allow any type of electronic device on site.
To minimize the useless struggle and attempts to disrupt our mission, we agreed to 2 of us would go up. we (Esq. Paul adujie & Taiwo Olorode) leaving the video crew and 2 other delegates downstairs (Oluwaseye Olusa & Anaelechi Onwunwanne)
What happened next was beyond belief, we were escorted by this the two secret service agents onto an awaiting Freight elevator, where we managed to confirm what dept they were affiliated with.
Once up, we went through the "normal-normal" security check assault (a common thing nowadays) before we were allowed in the consular area. We were directed by the agents to a narrow hallway lined with offices. Out came the CG himself (Juan Manuel), looking timid and preoccupied, with what? "I don't know" but he rushed towards us asking: yes! you have a letter for me?... or some type of document? To which Esq. Adujie responded: yes! We do! but before we hand it over we would like to read the content of the letter to you". (the 2 agents stood firmly on guard less than 3 feet away from us, making sure we were never out of sight)
At the direction of Esq. Adujie, I proceeded to recite the letter contents right there in the hallway (there were even times when their consulate personnel walked right through the middle of this little encounter)
Once I was done with our letter reading aloud, the Spanish CG was handed a pen to endorce our copy and while we handed him another copy for his safe keeping. He later assured us he would make sure our copy is handed over to his Government.
Case closed, everyone shook hands and our 2 "newly acquired agent friends" accompanied us right back to the building lobby downstairs.
Overall, a major accomplishment for all Nigerians home and abroad. we made our point: "if you lay a finger on one of us many of us will speak up and be our Brother's: Keeper"
The attached pictures were all taken during the course of the day, the video upload will be done later in the evening once we're able to get the editing right.
I'm unsure of how to show our sincere gratitude to everyone that flew our "Green-white-Green" today but I'm sure God is the only person to reward deeds like this.
My people! You were all dignified and stood tall above all the racist elements we encounter "day in-day out" and you made sure your voices were heard in the halls of power.
Let me let you Know! What I concluded today: "It's not how many people that matters but the substance in the people's message" this is a symbolic gesture that changes everything we know to date ...IE how you treat or mistreat African people matters and people are watching.
In attendance were 6 Nigerians and a friend of Nigeria- Esq.Paul Adujie, Taiwo Olorode-sys engineer, Oluwaseye Olusa-video and photo journalist, Anaelechi Owunwanne- ENG/architect, Mr Ogaga, Efrain Perez-Eng/architect-friend of Nigeria.
May the soul of the deceased rest in the most perfect peace and the blessing of the Almighty be with his loved ones. (Amen!)
This is just a summary of today's event, be sure to expect a more reflective narration of event at a latter time.
Peace! Love and Unity,
Taiwo Olorode
Pictures
       
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Posted by Robot| 29.06.2007 21:16