Akinbo Olatunde Olubiyi, generally called Prince, died August 7, a few days ago. This chieftain of Yoruba origins, died in Luxembourg, where he had lived and worked, at the age of 60.
Right at the beginning of the month, there was a Yoruba party in the city, and Prince was the Organizing Secretary of the Yoruba Union. Van Dan, from Edo, attended the party on invitation. As he explained, when he arrived the country over 20 years ago, there was just one union that catered for all Nigerians. Ndigbo first broke out to form an Igbo union which they insisted was a cultural thing, not an instrument for pursuit of ethnic advantage. Others followed suit. But one unique thing about these associations, though, is the extent they go in welcoming non-members.
“I find it really special that there’s a strong sense of cohesion and Nigerianess (here). No Edo, Ibo, Yoruba event would occur without at least half the invitees being non-Ibo or Yoruba, etc.,” Van Dan says.
This party followed the pattern. Prince spent quality time with Dan and in the course of that, mentioned that he would undergo a minor surgery on the leg. Dan tried to dissuade him, being sceptical of all surgeries and sensing fear in Prince. He went for the surgery, and was discharged soon after. The next day, he died in his home from “blood clot”. He was on the phone with someone and then started struggling. Three ambulance teams came to attend to him, but after two hours, he was pronounced dead.
The death of a Nigerian brings out the best in this Nigerian community. Across regions, ethnicity and religion, they cluster together for any deceased Nigerian and give resounding last respects.
Concerning Prince, Dan says, “I think he was a Roman Catholic. But to us here, it doesn’t matter one bit. We are everything and everywhere”. So, from across Christian denominations, including aladura, to Muslims, these Nigerians gathered for the last respects for Prince.
“It doesn’t matter tribe, religion, social status here. One for all and all for one. This guy only managed to bring his family over after 15 years in the process of trying to get his stay. His wife isn’t working and all his kids are in university, aside from one who recently started work as assistant in an accounting firm.
“The community sponsored the funeral and was ready to sue the hospital. But his family insisted on no autopsy.
“If his family in Nigeria hadn’t ordered that he’d be buried here, we’d have funded the flight.
“We don’t leave a Nigerian unburied here, even if he was a junkie or drug peddler who never revealed his nationality.
“The day you die, we come for you. And the society here would know you have people”.
“Yeah, it was a full house (for Prince), the service of songs and candlelight evening, after which everyone assembled in front of his house for prayers before dispersal.
“The white people in the streets were asking what was happening. They’d never seen such a thing before.
“Then folks returned to the hall for “un pour le route” – one for the road.
“Tomorrow at 2 pm, we go for the burial at the cemetery just next to his house.
“In these parts, your kids must school in the schools next to your house, and when you die, you must he buried or cremated in the cemetery next to your house.
“Of course, a Nigerian thing, “take-away” food and drinks packages, and a “thanks for coming” thing were served to everyone.”
Even town unions back home here in Nigeria won’t go that far, not to mention allcomer Nigerians. The bond of brotherhood out there is unparalleled and is something worthy of emulation back home.
The future is even more promising from these Nigerians, Dan says:
“Another good thing going is the children. They were born here. You can’t keep them apart from one another on the basis of provincial ideas imported from home.”
PLAUDITS FOR NIGERIAN EMBASSY IN BRUSSELS
Stories about Nigerian embassies abroad are usually depressing. The usual line is embassies out there starved of funds, sometimes without heating in winter. The frustrated staff transfer their aggression to fellow Nigerians that come for one consular service or the other.
But for this Nigerian community, their amazing run of luck extends to their embassy – Nigerian embassy in Brussels, which oversees Luxembourg. Hear Dan:
“When I listen to Nigerians elsewhere complain about our other embassies worldwide, I don’t know what to say. We must be very lucky to have the kind of embassy we have in Brussels.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, where you stay, or whether you pass by Europe. Once you get to the Nigerian embassy in Brussels you will receive its VIP treat. They may not have money to give you, but they make you feel welcome.
“If you want to meet the ambassador, you jolly well will.
“I don’t know how, but I’ve been here for over 20 years now, it’s never been different. Many ambassadors have come and gone. Ambassadors from different parts of Nigeria, but the culture remains the same.
“They’re cordial and courteous. Very. And they go the extra mile to attend to you, even when you arrive after the embassy is shut.
“If I tell you that some of the staff have offered to pay, using their visa cards when mine fails. They never asked for a commission. I don’t know anyone in my over 20 years here who’s bribed anyone in our embassy in Brussels.
“The previous ambassador would give everyone his card when in town hall meetings and say, ‘The embassy is your home. Call me at any time, night or day. If you don’t get a response, leave a message and I’ll call you back’.”
That representative of the Nigerian state was Ambassador Obinna Onowu, a career diplomat from Anambra State.
“It must be a miracle to have such an embassy, I’ve long concluded.
“Call the embassy during work hours, after the fourth ring, someone must pick up your call and attend to you, never in a hurry. I’m never scared that my problem won’t be solved when I call that embassy.
“When I call to say I’m in Luxembourg and would pass by the embassy on a certain day, and I do that, I’m telling you, they remember. And when I don’t come and come on another day, they remind me of my earlier statement”.
Amazing! Who says Nigerians aren’t wonderful people!
Ojukwu-Enendu is a former newspaper editor, and can be reached through: [email protected].
