From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
•L-R (front): Dickson, Kalu, Fadeyi, Mrs. Kalu, Mrs. Kim Judy, Bello, Air Vice Marshal Usra Hendra Harahap (retd.), Mrs. Nenny Harahap, Cui Jianchun, and Mrs. Liang Huili; (Back): Amb. Kim Young-Chae (middle), Clem Agba (2nd right), his wife, Mrs. Kathryn Agba (right), and staff of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea
On Tuesday evening, in his Abuja residence, former Governor of Abia State and senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, and wife, Mrs. Ifunnaya Kalu, gathered friends of the family and those of the outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nigeria, His Excellency, Kim Young-Chae, to bid the South Korean envoy and his spouse, Kim Judy, farewell.
Present at the ceremony were the chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and immediate past Governor of Niger State, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello; the vice-chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson; and the vice-chairman, Senate Committee on Communication, Trade and Investment, Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi.
•Bello (r), in a handshake with Fadeyi, while Kalu and Cui watch in admiration.
Also at the event were the immediate past Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Mr. Clem Agba, and his wife, Mrs. Kathryn Agba; the Chinese envoy to Nigeria, Ambassador Cui Jianchun, and his spouse, Mrs. Liang Huili; the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Air Vice Marshal Usra Hendra Harahap (retd.), and his spouse, Mrs. Nenny Harahap, and staff of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Abuja.
The convivial atmosphere brought memories of Ambassador Kim’s over three years sojourn in Nigeria to the fore in which he visited a total of 15 states, during his tour of duty. Some of the states were Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi, Edo, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and Adamawa.
In his remarks, Bello said the event was a family gathering. He recalled his interactions with the envoys present at the ceremony while he was governor of Niger State, particularly the Indonesian and Chinese envoys when they had exchange of visits.
Bello also said there is always a reason for everything and God, for some reasons, decided to bring them together.
Bello said: “It is only a starting point. We don’t know where this relationship will take us to. As you embark on your journey back home, we wish you and your family well.”
Also, Dickson said it was not the first time he was being hosted by Kalu and his family and prayed that it would not be the last.
Dickson, who also noted that it was always a pleasure to be hosted by the wonderful family, further said it was a night to get together and make merry and celebrate wonderful people “who are doing their best for our world.”
Dickson appreciated the South Korean envoy and his spouse, whom he said have done very well in Nigeria by deepening the friendship and the relationship between the Republic of Korea and Nigeria.
He recalled the friendship between Ambassador Kim and his state, Bayelsa, as evidenced in his conversation with the Governor of Bayelsa State, Duoye Diri, wishing them well in their endeavours.
On his part, Senator Fadeyi expressed gratitude to Senator Kalu for the invitation to be part of the event. He appreciated the envoys and thanked them for their service to the country.
In his speech, Agba said Ambassador Kim and himself have come a long way. He recalled the very first time the Korean envoy came to his office as Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, regarding agreements with South Korea that were not consummated. Agba disclosed that, within three weeks, he brought the agreements before the Federal Executive Council, got the necessary approvals and also brought them before the National Assembly for endorsement that was required.
According to Agba, “that was where the relationship began. I recall in 2021 when His Royal Highness, the Otaru of Auchi, gave me a chieftaincy title as the Oduma of Auchi Sacred Kingdom (the Lion of Auchi Sacred Kingdom), Ambassador Kim was there in my country home, in my village, in Edo State. I retaliated anyway. I went with my wife last year to South Korea. It is such a beautiful place.”
Agba thanked Senator Kalu and his wife for putting together the dinner, even as he said his family looked forward to an opportunity of hosting Kalu and his wife.
Adding his voice, Ambassador Harahap said Ambassador Kim was not just his friend but also his brother.
Harahap expressed delight that through the dinner he made more brothers from Nigeria. He also expressed hope that the brotherhood would be enhanced more and more.
Speaking after Harahap, Ambassador Cui expressed gratitude to Kalu for the opportunity to be on the guest list.
Cui said: “We are happy to be on the invitation list. We have ambassadors, we have chairmen, we have senators and we have also the governors.”
Cui further appreciated the love and intimacy between China and Nigeria and called for support and trust always.
Addressing the guests, Kalu said the night was not for speech-making, but a night “to thank our brother, our friend, for a job well done.”
Kalu also said, during his tour of duty, Ambassador Kim accorded him a very big honour by hosting the representative of the President of the Republic of Korea during the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29, 2023.
Kalu, on behalf of his family, thanked the guests for honouring the invitation and wished Ambassador Kim and his spouse well in their future endeavours.
Responding to the remarks, Ambassador Kim thanked Kalu for hosting the wonderful dinner, saying it was also a very good occasion to meet other guests.
“I have been in Nigeria for three years and 10 days. Because of my next posting, I have to return to Korea by the end of this month. But my wife wants to stay here. In case I take my flight alone, please, take care of her,” the envoy jocularly said.
Ambassador Kim further said, alongside his spouse, they have enjoyed Nigeria: “She has more friends than me. She has more social activities than me. I had to work in the office, taking care of reports, et cetera, but she has made good friends, fantastic friends.
“Tonight’s dinner, actually, is hosted by Mrs. Kalu in order to honour my wife more than me. But I am happy my wife and Madam established a good friendship.”