By Awa Kalu, (SAN)

Ottawa is in Canada and Canada is a leading commonwealth country just as Nigeria. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan recently presented letters of credence to a fresh team of envoys and easily, the most visible in that team is Chief Ojo Maduekwe, CFR, eloquent and well read Lawyer, astute politician, skilled administrator, public affairs analyst, great orator and thinker extraordinary.

That is the man that has been dispatched to Canada to represent the interest of this country to the best of his ability and as circumstances may warrant being that time and circumstances have over the years shaped the contours of International diplomacy.

Ojo Maduekwe’s nomination as ambassador elicited as much commentary as his posting. In some quarters, it appeared infra dignitatum that after climbing the Olympian height as Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, it was sheer madness for the same man to return to the same Ministry as an envoy subject to the control of a Permanent Secretary and a Minister.

His posting to Canada, though elevated, generated another type of controversy. Why should a man who has served gloriously in several capacities not be given a choice Ambassadorial posting such as to the United Nations as this country’s Permanent Representative?

What about St. James’ Court, as our envoy to the United Kingdom. The arm chair analysts indeed offered many reasons why our man for the season ought to ‘rest on his oars’. However, other events have shown that a significant number of people think that Ojo’s twilight has not yet arrived.

Rather, his trajectory in the public domain is in full bloom. This is attested to by a flurry of activities that have u
nfolded since the presentation of the letters of credence to the Ambassadors. A few of such events will suffice to show that the high and mighty think that Ojo is indeed a worthy Ambassador.

Senator Ita Enang hosted five of the new Ambassadors in a vivacious evening of utmost conviviality. On hand were the Ambassadors to North Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Switzerland, Russia and Canada. A star studded Live Band provided entertainment at the highest level punctuated by a welcome speech by the amiable chief host and responses from the lively quests.

On that occasion, although the MC thought that chief Maduekwe would be circumlotous, he merely reminded his audience that the present crop of Ambassadors were ‘Ambassadors of Transformation’. He promised that the only item on the agenda was to go out and to perform to the satisfaction of the generality of Nigerians.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Emeka Ihedioha assembled the crème de la crème of Abuja to say farewell to Chief Ojo Maduekwe and his wife and it was another round of emcomius that was the order of the day.

Then on the very first day of July, a Sunday, the ‘high command’ of the Presbyterian Church gathered with a powerful congregation at the Church’s Abuja 1st Parish in Wuse 2 to send Ojo and wife forth to Ottawa, Canada. Led by the Prelate, the Most Reverend Professor E.M. Uka, the Presbyterian Church heirachy bid farewell to one of the church’s most decorated high flyers.

The church struck a chord in the minds of discerning worshippers when it combined the ambassador’s send forth with a birthday celebration for Mrs. Ucha Maduekwe (beloved wife of Chief Ojo Maduekwe) and her twin sister, Mrs. Nnenna Anigbo.

Both sisters, born 66 years ago, are only alive today because of the humanitarian intervention of a Presbyterian legendary missionary, Mary Slessor whose sojourn in Nigeria was taught in civics classes several years ago.

To avoid a rigmarole on this piece, the sermon on the occasion was preached by the Prelate himself and rather than eulogise, he dutifully charged Chief Ojo Maduekwe to recognize the years of Presbyterian history which he was called upon by virtue of his appointment, to defend.

With lessons from appropriate portions of the Old Testament, it was easy to see why several people who were elevated to high offices ended as disappointments having suffered from ‘power failure’.

Whether this was intended as a pun on the inadequacies of public power supply in Nigeria is immaterial but the examples offered were very daunting reminders that life’s race is not for the swiftest.

Samson’s power was shut down by his dalliance with Delilah while Saul lost power due to disobedience – doing what he was not supposed to. David, Solomon and a host of others fell from the Olympian height at different times.