Ojo Maduekwe Shuns Nigeria’s Independent Celebration in the US
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...By Seyi Oduyela
Published: October 15, 2009
Mr. Ojo Maduekwe
Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Ojo Maduekwe was conspicuously absent at this year’s Independent Celebration hosted by the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC.
A source at the Nigeria Embassy disclosed to African Interest, that Mr. Maduekwe was in Washington, DC and chose to celebrate the Independent Day at his Four Seasons hotel room on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. According to our source, The Minister, who was formerly National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party stopped lodging at Ritz Carlton hotel after African Interest reported that he lodged there after the Obama Inauguration.
No reason was giving for his non-appearance at the Nigerian Embassy to join Nigerians in Diaspora and a host of guest from other foreign Diplomats who graced the occasion. Sources at the Foreign Affairs, told African Interest, that the Minister l had left Nigeria since September to represent President Umar Yar’Adua at the United Nations General Assembly held in New York between September 23 to September 30.
This year Independent celebration, according to sources, was one of the best organized events ever held at the Nigerian embassy because of the belief that the Foreign Affairs Minister would be in attendance. Many Nigerians who attended were disappointed that the Minister, despite his presence in Washington DC, could shun them by not attending and celebrating the Independent day with them. Some had prepared to ask him questions about why Nigeria has not being able to appoint an Ambassador to the US.
It will be recalled that in his first year in 2007 as Minister, Ojo Maduekwe was also in the Washington, DC for the Independent day but arrived late delaying the evening festivities. During President Yar’adua’s first and only visit to the US in 2007, Maduekwe was also late to the book launch of Professor Ibrahim Gambari, UN Under Secretary-General on Political Affairs. Mr. Maduekwe walked into the venue during President Yar’Adua’s address, which was a breach of protocol.
