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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has met Nigeria’s former external affairs minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, in his Palace in Benin City, where they reflected on their days in foreign service to Nigeria as diplomats when the late Ambassador Mbu was the doyen of Nigeria’s diplomatic mission to the Scandinavian.
Addressing the Benin monarch, Chief Ikimi showered encomium on him for his outstanding contributions, which helped to shape Nigeria and solicited for prayers having attained a significant milestone in life.
The former external affairs minister congratulated the Oba on his forthcoming investiture as Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja.
“Your Majesty, you are one of the leaders in this world that I appreciate.
“I respect our tradition and I have come to congratulate you for what you have done in building the revered Kingdom of Benin. You have shown respect and everyone respects the Benin Kingdom under your leadership.
The Oba, while welcoming Chief Ikimi on behalf of his chiefs and the royal family, recalled when they were posted as vanguard, diplomatic warriors in foreign missions.
The traditional ruler went down memory lane on their service in foreign land and said it was, indeed, tough when Nigeria was tagged a ‘pariah state,’ that the international community was not pleased with.
“We have to do a lot of work to launder the image of the country. I want to say thank you for your support during that period. My posting at that time was like a training ground for me. So, I had all the support at that time because you were in office,” the Oba said.
The Benin monarch served as ambassador in one of the Scandinavian countries when Chief Ikimi was the external affairs minister under the military regime headed by General Sani Abacha.
