From last week, continues the  narrative of how ammbassadors in other countries are accorded respect which enables them to rise to higher positions, including the presidency. This is unlike what obtains in Ngeria where our diplomats are treated with little or no respect 

Otto Von Bismarck, in 1859 was the Prussian ambassador to Russia and later to Paris in 1862 in the court of Napoleon III, he later became Prime Minister. George H. W. Bush (12 June 1924-30 November, 2018) was the 41st President of the United States of America. He was equally the 10th United States American ambassador to the United Nations from (March 1, 1971-January 18, 1973).

Mr. Benjamin William Mkapa (November 12, 1938- July 24, 2020) was Tanzania Ambassador to Nigeria in 1976. He was Tanzania Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1977 to 1980. In 1982, he served as High Commissioner to Canada and between 1983 and 1984 as Ambassador to the United States of America. 

He returned home in 1984 where he was again appointed Member of Parliament and Minister for Foreign Affairs. In 1992, he served as Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education, prior to being elected President in 1995, and Chairman of his Party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi(1996-2006). He was re-elected President in 2000 for another five-year term.

There was Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki (82). He was the second post-apartheid South African President. He was the African National Congress, ANC, envoy in Nigeria between 1976 and 1978. He established the ANC presence that eclipsed that of its rival Pan Africanist Congress, PAC. While in Lagos, he formed strong friendship with the then head of state, General Olusegun Obasanjo and top civil servants, including Yahaya Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office, Mr. Bisi Ogunniyi and others. 

Likewise, there are examples of those who have served in leadership positions yet ended up becoming ambassadors. Mr. Walter Frederick “Fritz” Mondale (January 5, 1928- April 19, 2021) was the 42nd Vice President of the United States of America, and served from 1977 to 1981 under President Jimmy Carter. He became the United States of America Ambassador to Japan between 1993 and 1996.

Mr. Salim Ahmed Salim was the Prime Minister of Tanzania between April 24, 1984 and November 5, 1985. He became the Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity, OAU, between 1989 and 2001, later African Union special envoy on Dafur between 2004 and 2008. Mr. Kevin Rudd(67) is at present the 23rd Australian Ambassador to the United States of America. He was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia and served between June 27, 2013 and September 18, 2018. 

Nigeria in the past was never short of outstanding ambassadors. Almost all of them represented Nigeria without blemish. At the risk of offending many, let me mention some ambassadors we have had in the past. Joe Iyala, Tokunbo Awolowo Dosunmu, Joe Keshi, Lawal Abdullahi Kazaure, B. A. T. Balewa, Olu Adeniji, Oladele Akadiri, Olusegun Apata, G. Dove-Edwin, H. Harriman J. N. Ukaegbu, L. A. Fabunmi, A. G. P. Omotayo, S. A. Otuyelu, Segun Olusola, Ebun Oyagbola, Tobi Ogundipe, Olujimi Jolaoso, Christopher Kolade, Florentina Adenike Ukonga, Uzoma Eminike, Martine Gereng-Sen, Oladele Abiodun, Ijeoma Bristol, Laraba Bhutto, Sifawu Momoh, Zainab Ali Kotoko, Chigozie Obi Nnadozie, Francisca Olaide Marinho, Isaac Aluko-Olokun, Ignatius Chukuemeka Olisemeka, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Oladele Akadire, Dapo Fawora, Olu Saanu, Olu Ibunkun, etc. They are countless.

Let us dwell on the pioneer ambassadors. 

Chief Julius Momo Udochi was the first Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America(1960–1965). He was a Teacher (1931–1938); a Customs Officer in the Nigerian Civil Service 1938–1945; Assistant secretary, Nigerian Secretariat 1945–1947; Provincial Secretary, Nigerian Civil Service Union; Co-Editor The Nigerian Civil Servant (1939–1945). He was called to the English Bar as a Barrister at Law by the Middle Temple in 1950. 

He practised Law (1950–1960); was Chairman of the Federal Non-Government Teacher’s Salary Commission and a member of the Mission to the World Bank, 1958; Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association and member of the Committee on Legal Education, 1955–1959; member of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, 1954-1959 and 1965–1966; Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Mid-Western State of Nigeria, 1967–1975.

To be concluded