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London: Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Dozie Nwanna engages protesters in free for all |
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Written by NVS
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Friday, 29 June 2007 |
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The UK Team-29th of June Protest at the Spanish Embassy
The UK team converged at Victoria Train Station at 11:20AM from where we all walked down to the Embassy of Spain on Chesham Road; we met other protesters waiting for us. At exactly 12Midday, we approached the main entrance of the Spanish Embassy where an official was already waiting for us. He told us that the Embassy would only allow two people into the lobby to meet with a diplomatic official, the group protested but eventually succumbed and the duo of Anne Mordi and Uche Nworah walked into the lobby to deliver the letter and get a copy signed. We must however state that the embassy did not allow us take any photographs nor record the proceedings on video tape.
While we waited for the duo to come out, police officers swooped on us accusing us all that there was a report that we were restricting visitors and staff of the embassy from going in, we denied this and despite being angered maintained our cool: this was a diversionary tactic to derail us because there was obviously no reason why they must come armed to the teeth, dem no sabi how many times we don protest for Naija inside tear gas? Anne Mordi and Uche Nworah eventually came out and we proceeded to the barricaded traffic island provided by the Police where we had another confrontation. The chief officer wanted us to be caged but we protested this, Wale Akin and Uncle Tisha who had made initial arrangement with the Met Police had a quick discourse with the officer who eventually agreed to our argument. We protested, sang solidarity songs, distributed leaflets and posters to passersby and drivers. We left the Spanish Embassy at 2pm and proceeded to the Nigerian High Commission Building on Northumberland Avenue, London to also deliver a protest letter to the High Commissioner, HE Dr Christopher Kolade.
{mosgoogle} We were met with an initial stiff opposition which eventually melted and the duo of Uncle Tisha and Uche Nworah were invited into the building to deliver the letter and also get a copy signed. While we awaited the return of the duo, the official car of the Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Dozie Nwanna pulled into the diplomatic bay and the group approached him for an impromptu interview, he declined to be interviewed which resulted in a hot exchange of words that also went into a momentary free for all fight that brought the Police to calm the situation, we eventually got the letters signed and took our leave.
We must report at this juncture that the Deputy High Commissioner behaved in a manner not worthy of an Ambassador, he fought with our camera crew and wanted the cameras seized but we protested, to say that we were shocked was indeed an understatement! Nigerian public office holders need to know that they will be abused, heckled and painted black at all times, they need not mess up themselves in public!
We must therefore commend the participants for a job well done despite the low turn-out, Nigerians like to talk the talk but not work the work. Twenty one participants were involved in the protest in a country where there are over 2 Million Nigerians!!
May the soul of the deceased rest in perfect peace!
Signed
UK Group
Pictures

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Last Updated (
Wednesday, 23 April 2008 ) |
Posted by Robot| 29.06.2007 17:49