WHY PERM SEC, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AMB.BULUS ZOM LOLO SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DEFY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI FOR FIVE MONTHS, AND DESTROY NIGERIA’S IMAGE- CASE OF AMB. LAWRENCE OLUFEMI OBISAKIN IN COTONOU

PREAMBLE

• Should the Ministry of Foreign Affairs permanent secretary flagrantly disobey a presidential directive?
• Should the permanent secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs drag in the mud Nigeria’s hard won and long -standing good image?
• Should a permanent secretary single handedly recall an Ambassador when President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to maintaining him at post by virtue of his commitment to a fellow president?
• Should a permanent secretary impose a non French -speaking female convertee ( a likely old friend) as a charge d’affaires in a strategic mission like Cotonou, even while the Ambassador had not taken leave of his hosts though his formal departure date had been circulated and remained a few weeks?
• Should the permanent secretary be allowed to disgrace an Ambassador probably on the basis of jealousy that according to him,’he is waxing stronger’?
• Should the permanent secretary’s ego problems be allowed to undermine national interest and image?

And yet Ambassador Bulus Zom Lolo, permanent secretary, Foreign Affairs had done all these and is relishing in more of it.

 

Background

With all sense of humility, I have served Nigeria in the Foreign Service from August 1981, for about thirty-five fruitful and unblemished years till my recent retirement, with effect 1st January, 2016, on the basis of serving as a director for eight years . I had served Nigeria with unblemished records in Switzerland, Brazil, Israel and New York Permanet Mission to the UN and lately as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin, where people believe I polished the image of Nigeria and reasonably ameliorated business opportunities for both Nigeria and Benin, ranging from defence of petty traders, spare parts sellers, giving consular assistance to all Nigerians far flung in Benin Republic, to successfully negotiating for the Dangote group an arrangement which had dragged on arrangement yt took us about two years, 2013-2015. Today,with all sense of humility, but glory to God, the benefits are daily enjoyed in the cement market from Nigeria to Ghana.

I had served both ministers and Presidents. Ministers that I directly served meritoriously are: Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, Senator Ike Omar S. Nwachukwu, and Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman. Encouraged only by my talents and sense of patriotism, as  a young diplomat without any formal interpreter’s training but my Unife degree, I served, on ad hoc basis, as interpreters in French , Portuguese and Spanish to Presidents,Shehu Shagari( I volunteered when my ministry was about to be embarrassed for not having a Portuguese interpreter for the visiting Angolan President, in 1981 when I was about only one week old in the service) Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha as well as Resident interpreter and Director of Protocol to President Olusegun Obasanjo from 2003 – 2007.

I am probably the only Nigerian to have interpreted to our Presidents in three languages in 2006/2007, and single handedly served about ten ECOWAS heads of State as interpreter of English, French and Portuguese languages in Guinea Bissau with President Olusegun Obasanjo presiding. There they took me for a Guinean and were ready to appoint me the Foreign minister and I earned special commendation of the then President of ECOWAS commission, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas,who disclosed that I was a Nigerian and President Obasanjo’s Director of protocol and personal interpreter. Ibn Chambas is now UN Sec General’s Special Representative for West Africa and CENSAD, based in Dakar.

I personally acquired in the course of my service the following degrees: BBA. International Trade, Brasilia, ( 1994) MA, Biblical Leadership with concentration in Conflict Management, and PH.D, Indiana, USA. ( 2011 and 2013)

I have published six books of which three are professional.

It is on record that I joined the Foreign service two days before Bulus Zom Lolo from Kaduna state. He repeated this fact a few weeks ago here in Cotonou.

The gap between Lolo and I on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directors’ list was about twenty persons as director before he was appointed permanent secretary about two years ago.

 

RECALL OF AMBASSADOR AND BULUS LOLO’S ARROGANCE.

Career Ambassadors of my set appointed in 2011 and generally resumed duty July 2012, were recalled in October 2016 by a circular signed by Perm sec Lolo. I have no problems with that. As soon as I returned to post, 4th November,2016 I informed my host authorities. However, both the host Foreign Minister Saliou Akadiri and the President Boni Yayi informed me that there was a standing arrangement with Nigeria not to withdraw its ambassador close to its presidential election.

The President of Benin, Boni Yayi, twice assured me that he had requested that I be allowed to stay till his handing over scheduled for 6 April 2016. By this time Amb Lolo kept bombarding me with insulting telex messages.He started blackmailing me about. Who would have imagined that he had been instructed by President Buhari about my stay till April 2016? And yet this is what I found out: Perm Sec BULUS Lolo had been daring President Buhari almost with impunity! One wonders where the Minister of Foreign Affairs stands on this?

I had been calling and making enquiries at headquarters but assuming that perm sec Bulus Lolo was normal and should respect his president’s directive and thus was surely on my side. However insulting and obnoxious telexes intensified from his office, posting and passages as well as that of Under Sec, Admin & Finance, Musa Musawa . They sent me telexes that were contradictory. Some stopped my pay effectively from 16/1/16, some, signed by current director, Perm Sec Office, Amb Ringim, asking me to disengage on 29 February but dated March 3rd, 2016. I was not paid since 1st Jan, 2016, even till end of March of my writing this as my last resort. Meanwhile I am to-date operating as the only recognized Ambassador of Nigeria in Benin since Presidents who appoint and withdraw ambassadors, are still maintaining me in Cotonou: President Boni Yayi on the basis of his agreement with President Buhari while the latter might have been unaware of a wayward Perm sec Bulus Lolo’s disobedience, still relates through State House.

 

THE FACTS NAKED BUT SACRED

Meanwhile on 15/1/16, I sent perm sec Bulus Lolo telex No 02 and alerted the two ministers that President Boni Yayi insisted he had the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari for my departure to be postponed till after his handing over in April 2016. I then informed formally the host Foreign ministry and the diplomatic Community of my departure on 9 April 2016. Should I have doubted a host President who practically swore to me that he had my president’s approval for my stay? I found out that he was correct but Bulus Lolo was bent on disgracing Lawrence Olufemi Obisakin, from Osun state, to probably favour his female stooge in Cotonou. For how long shall Nigeria’s interests, image and prestige be allowed to suffer untold damages just to boost the inordinate ego, jealousy of Bulus Zom Lolo from Kaduna state?

To-date the host Foreign Ministry authorities treat the duo of Lolo’s stooge Snr. Counsellor Beatrice Ikeku- Thomas and her wayward counsellor/ head of Chancery Adebowale Fehintola as in rebellion and will not receive them nor deal with them as an embassy.

 

ELECTORAL ASSISTANCE FROM NIGERIA AND BULUS LOLO’S  GAMES REVEALED

Meanwhile, as an observant ambassador, deep in bilateral history and recent Nigeria’s relations, I had recommended that Nigeria, as was done to some other countries in West Africa, should render electoral assistance to Benin for its forthcoming presidential elections of Feb, 2016. Perm Sec Bulus Lolo was initially against it, just as he was virulently against my recommendations that President Muhammadu Buhari should honour the 1st Aug 2015 invitation to participate as the only special guest at the Independence Anniversary celebration in Cotonou. (The HMOS, in charge of West Africa, Hon.Hajia Khadija BUKAR IBRAHIM was in touch with me though mostly on trips, yet was somewhat a listener and sounds genuine) The President upheld my view and participated. Mr. President equally approved assistance to Benin. I had received President Buhari three times with both oral and written presidential commendations. The records are there to see.

 

ALL OUT ATTEMPT TO DISGRACE AMBASSADORS AND SIPHON MONEY?

About two weeks earlier, Bulus Lolo had posted to Cotonou a convertee clerk that now is a senior Counsellor. Despite my telex rather asking for French- speaking officers and not perpetuate a situation in which the Ambassador is the only French speaking officer from Foreign Affairs. She does not speak French and the observed English knowledge is far below the expected diplomatic standard. If Nigerian diplomats as these ones can neither read newspapers, listen to news, then how can they report on events at their post? How can they protect Nigeria’s interests as statutorily and professionally expected? On Thursday 25 Feb, 2016 Perm sec Lolo came by special aircraft without informing the Ambassdor nor any other home based officer but his stooges the new arrival Mrs Beatrice Ikeku-Thomas and the Head of chancery, the latter due for posting back this May, 2016,( being the only officer who refused to learn French even when paid for by government; strange in my thirty fifth year of diplomatic service. Other agencies are making good progress.)

Amb Lolo was mistakenly driven into the Residence by the local official driver.He was thoroughly embarrassed. How Providence does justice! There he confessed that the electoral material assistance was based on my memo to headquarters. He regretted that the material could not cross the border on that day for surreptitious presentation. He complained of poor handling. I offered to help. I did, despite the percrived sabotage attempt by the HOC who now ignored my directives on clearance but since I had more useful and loyal officers, we succeeded in clearing Nigeria’s electoral assistance materials within 24 hrs. I had to thank the DSC Customs, Fatai Adegbite posted to the mission during President Obasanjo time in order to facilitate Benin/ Nigeria commerce in a special bilateral neighbour’s arrangement ,called the Badagry Protocol. I reactivated it in 2012 awhist apparently gave both countries 600% industrial trade boost during my tenure. The Seme Customs revenue books and other agencies should testify. I have several sectoral commendations on records.

Subsequently, I took him to the chancery nearby to speak to the home based officers, including all agencies and the Defence section.

 

EMBARASSMENT FROM AMBASSADOR  BULUS LOLO

With no decorum, this perm sec went ahead to announce that the ambassador is retired and indeed should disengage from office under 24 hours, and withdraw to the Residence,not to deal with official mail again. He went further to impose the senior counsellor as Charge d’affaires. This is a diplomatic faux pas, since an Ambassador was still in place yet to take leave of his host. And in the face if all these, to think that President Buhari had clearly instructed Bulus Lolo on my tenure till April should beat all imaginations.

Seeing him off at the airport, I asked for a few days till the following wednesday. I was thinking as Mr. President was on a long Middle East trip, I could reach the Presidency to get Bulus Lolo properly advised and instructed on extant presidential decision on my stay till April. That was not to be as apparently he had compromised my contacts and correspondence. Permanent secretaries can be so powerful!

 

SEQUENCE OF COMEDY OF ERRORS BY PERM SEC BULUS LOLO

1. On Saturday 27/2/16 Amb.Bulus Lolo landed again in a private jet to formally present the electoral support materials to Benin. He was accompanied by the Ambassador of Benin in Nigeria, Mouftaou Oyedekpo Laleye and the Hon Consul Gen of Benin in Kano, Mukhtari Daura. One wonders if it was a Nigerian diplomatic demarche or a Benin one? I ensured however that I witnessed the fruits of my labour and the Benin high authorities accepted my invitation very well. Perm sec Lolo personally invited the senior counsellor to sit at the high table and in his statement betrayed emotion by addressing her as Charge d’affaires but quickly retracted. Some of the Benin senior officials there apparently wondered what was going on with great Nigeria they had known. I gave press interview since President Muhammadu Buhari still approves of my presence and accreditation. Both HOC and the FA loaned from me funds to entertain perm sec Bulus Lolo and entire guests that witnessed the handing over to Benin authorities of electoral materials. This is well receipted by the young FA. However not a single kobo or CFA is paid of all my claims made since . This is how vindictive and high handed Bulus Lolo could be. But there is a God in heaven who reveals all secrets… I had now realized that it was Perm Sec Bulus Lolo’s personal vendetta war against me for no just cause.
2. While I had withdrawn to the Residence, I was advised to alert (on the likely consequences of my sudden withdrawal about six days to Benin presidential election) the HMFA, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, who never replies to any of my mail since he resumed( it may be as some warned, the Perm Sec had succeeded in compromising all my communications, or had his mind already poisoned against me.) However, when on 10 Dec 2015, he accompanied Mr. President to Cotonou at Ex -President Matthieu Kerekou’s burial, we had apparently a good conversation mostly in French and I even handed over to him some crucial documents which he gladly received) This may be a cogent reason to hope that ICT division of MFA needs thorough investigation and reorganization) . I somes left the two ministers but only HMOS , Khadija Bukar Ibrahim reacted and advised that I get a written confirmation of my host authorities just as was done for my colleague in Niger Republic where the presidential,election was due on the same date as Benin. He was granted extension of stay. Why can’t Obisakin in Cotonou? Of course President Buhari was ever forthright and had granted me the stay but Bulus Lolo probably had a personal agenda, against Nigeria’s national interest.

 

SET TO SIPHON MONEY FROM EMBASSY?

3. It is interesting to note that the first assignment of the senior counsellor was to change bank account signatory in her letter Ref. NEC/ 1512/CON/ T dated 24/2/16, announcing that Amb. Lawrence OBISAKIN had retired and therefore ceases to be signatory hence Ms. Beatrice Ikeku- Thomas was then parading herself as Charge d’ Affaires and Alternate signatory. The bank rejected their attempt as it was irregular and likely fraud since I was still in town and as Alternate signatory should be the one signing such letter of introduction . Local staff could not be paid their Feb salary by cheques till about 10 March.The duo became desperate and pumped out more internal posting circulars including contradictory ones. The bid to siphon funds may be the main reason of attacking me so much. It is for investigation if indeed what I am hearing is true that the duo have opened a new account from where they Now send money weekly to Nigeria.
4. On 29/2/16, host HMFA, Saliou Akadiri wrote letter Ref No 188-C/ MAEIAFBE/ SGM/ SGA/ DPV to both HMFA and HMOS, the latter’s being Ref. 189/C…/ DPV, confirming that indeed President Boni Yayi (in appreciation of the immense contribution of Amb Lawrncec Obisakin to the Benin/ Nigeria bilateral relations and in consonance with standing arrangements,) had requested and obtained approval of President Muhammadu Buhari that Amb Lawrence Obisakin should depart after the handing over ceremony of President Boni Yayi 6th April, 2016.
5. On 1-3 March the Minister of Interior Lt- GEN Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau visited his counterpart Benin. I had been organizing tge meeting but as Perm Sec Bukus Lolo had forced me to disengage since 25-27 Feb, 2916 and I did but the sent Counsellor Beatrice Ikeku- Thomas was such a neophyte and was so blank that host Interior minister could not negotiate with her and appealed to me for rescue. Even, Amb Lolo directed her to make me host the ministers at the Residence! I took over the Minister’s arrival reception at Seme/ Krake border and the one day communique negotiation as resource person, intermittently as simultaneous or consecutive Interpreter with the embassy translator. Lt-Gen Dambazau was so impressed that he wrote me letter of commendation Ref HMI/008/Vol.1/31 of 21/3/16. I copied Amb Bulus Lolo and relevant officials in State House.
6. On 11/3/16, Amb Bulus Lolo emailed and subsequently sent by DHL, letter Ref. No. PSO/C.44,inter alia, regretting that despite unblemished record of Amb.Lawrence O. Obisakin in about thirty-five years of service ,’based on instructions given me… ordering him to vacate the Residence with immediate effect’ . Among his cogent reason against me was that I had decided to take instructions from my former host authorities. This is obviously disingenuous and prevarication. He stated that he had instructions ( certainly not from president Buhari) that I should vacate the Residence immediately and that his stooge take over as charge d’affaires . In a cryptic memo, his stooge senior Counsellor informed me that she had taken over and was ejecting me. I requested that they give me four days to conclude my packing and hand over, formally. They refused. I withdrew to the Residence. Please recall that in view of the preceding violence I preferred now to depart for Nigeria on Saturday 19/3/16 for safety and return for my departure ceremony on April but I needed to hand over the deanship of Corps Diplomatic and that of the African Group with their funds in my custody,the deanship which I assumed last December, 2015.

 

MY ORDEALS

7. That day, 11/3/16, at about 9 pm, I was alerted by a home-based officer that the duo were changing the lock of my outer door to my office .By so doing they had effectively eliminated the only trained communicator who was awaiting her replacement as was the normal practice. They thus exposed Nigeria’s security interests as the duo of Snr. Cons and HOC now communicate with the Perm SecEand likely the ministry on private internet of the HOC. As I was alerted by an officer so I went with my adult son to pick from the office my valuables. I did. But to my utter consternation, Adebowale Fehintola, counsellor/ HOC with Snr Counsellor Beatrice Ikeku- Thomas beside him, blocked the reception outer door and effectively detained me. I have witnesses.This happened in an embassy where Nigeria’s President, the Senate, and the Nigerian people still accredit me? I avoided confrontation as I judged that the HOC was most probably under influence. I escaped through the back door unknown to them. They realized that I was gone after about two hours and they started breaking the adjacent door to forcibly invade the Residence. and probably harm me. They had earlier withdrawn my security guards and instructed my personal staff to report to them in the chancery. I alerted the Defence Attache. As the banging on the door increased, I alerted the Foreign minister who asked the Interior minister, both are friendly, and some six armed policemen came to rescue me. At the forecourt of the chancery I warned the duo that I could wave their immunity and get them arrested as the authorities are well aware of their rebellion and diplomatically unethical activities. I heard them speaking to the perm sec who was literally choreographing his marionettes. What I witnessed in the Nigerian embassy Cotonou is shamefully sordid, unbelievably malicious. I have been dowsing attempts of leakage of this to the Benin or Nigerian press to protect Nigera’s image as this has been my assignment for about thirty- five years. But for how long can the truth be restricted?
8. On 15/3/16, at about 10:am, the Snr Counsellor, the HOC and the new FA, on his first posting were apparently led in by the deputy defence Attache, navy capt Martin Fakrogha, in full uniform claiming to be reading a telephone text message, claimed that on request of perm sec Bulus Lolo, the DMI and the CMI had ordered that I be flushed out of the Residence latest 18:00 hrs of the following day 16/3/18. I tried in vain to reach the DA, a gentle man, Brig Gen Idam O. Aghachi who was away in Lome on assignment. Since the Deputy DA was apparentlya sole mate and likely of the same hew with the HOCthat told them that I shall meet them at the chancery at 11:00 hrs to formally deliver them my memo and if they opened the doors to retrieve the properties and funds of the dean.I concluded my memo on my claims formally informing them of my desire to depart on Saturday. I equally signed, practically under duress the handing over note to the Snr counsellor. About 19:00 hrs the Snr Couns, HOC, FA did the inventory of the Residence including the DDA. I invited the latter since he claimed he was bring instructed too by his headquarters on my forced departure.And at about 21:00 hrs, I left the Residence of Nigeria. To date, I have been privately but securely accommodated in Cotonou from where I still operate and interact with bith Benin snd Nigerian State House officials and some select reasonable MFA’s too.
9. As I was departing the Residence, at exactly 20:57 hrs, a Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and publicity called and texted that indeed he was present at the bilateral audience in Abuja where President Boni Yayi requested extension of stay of Amb. Lawrence OBISAKIN till April 2016 inauguration ceremony and that President Buhari accepted it. I wrote to HMFA an appeal Ref NEC/HBO/141/ CON/ II dated 10/3/16 detailing all the stages of my ordeals in Lolo’s hand and finally, I also wrote an appeal to President Muhamnadu Buhari through SCOPE an appeal dated 19/3/16 to Mr. President. Both were evidently received but not a formal reaction to-date.
10. The following day, probably 17/3/16, the Spcial Adviser met President Buhari and told him of my ordeal in the hands of perm sec Bulus Lolo and reported that President Buhari was very angry about such. He, the SAP informed HMFA. I asked the SAP to request SCOP to write the presidential directive or he himself should forward to HMFA, the relevant report of his audience with the President to save me of this unnecessary oppression by Bulus Lolo.

 

CONCLUSIONS/ RECOMMENDATIONS.

• It is clear that President Buhari has directed the stay in Cotonou of Ambassador Lawrence Obisakin till April 2016 inauguration ceremony. My official send off ceremony and Honours had been scheduled by the host HMFA for first week of April after elections
• It is clear that withdrawal of ambassadorial rights and entitlements from Amb Obisakin and especially withholding his allowances with effect from 1/1/16 is a personal decision of Perm sec Bulus Lolo of MFA and it is in flagrant disobedience of President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives and commitment to his Benin counterpart. All my rights and privileges should therefore
• One wonders if and when a thorough investigation on perm sec Bulus Lolo’s attack on my person, interests and rights and privileges as extantly aporoved by President Muhammadu Buhari should not be initiated now and if found guilty appropriate disciplinary actions should be instituted against him and his accomplices at headquartes and among the officers in the embassy of Nigeria in Cotonou.
• The host authorities have refused to deal with the rebellious duo of Snr counsellor Beatrice Ikeku- Thomas and Counsellor/HOC Adebowake O. Fehintola but deal with me. I have received the President-elect Patrice Guillaume Talon and I continue my representational duty generally using my private CD car and driver. I observed the elections and had all the host authorities support required. I even hosted the Longbterm ECOWAS election observers and subsequently both the Nigerian andcECIWAS election observers to a dinner in the Residence before I left it. The Nigerian presidency through SCOP is still dealing with me as the de facto and de jure Nigeria’s ambassador for representational and other issues, but I am not in the Embassy. I have the support of practically all other four Nigerian government agencies in the embassy except the duo from MFA who are stooges of perm sec Lolo.
• Should this continue? When I formally take leave without a Nigerian flag flying, the press may hear all these.And that will be very soon. In a matter of days. What has Bulus Zom Lolo to gain in all these? Money, ego? What has Nigeria to lose? Much of its image and interests that I have had the privilege of joining my predecessors to build and enhance for about four years.
• The fact is that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed on my tenure in Cotonou till April 2016, Amb. BULUS Zom Lolo knows this but ignored presidential directive and he is cheating me. Facts are sacred. Truth is sacred. All truth is God’s truth- Thomas Aquinas. I may soon have to defend myself the best way I judge fit.

 

Lawrence Olufemi Obisakin, PhD

Ambassador

Cotonou.