Kalu, Ambode mourn Adefuye, Nigeria’s envoy to US

By Our Reporter on August 30, 2015 National

BY OLUWOLE FAROTIMI
Eminent busi­nessman and former gov­ernor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, has expressed sadness over the demise of Ni­geria’s Ambassador to the United States of America (USA), Pro­fessor Adebowale Ad­efuye.
The former governor de­scribed the late diplomat as a complete gentleman, whose death remains a huge loss to the nation.
In a condolence message signed by his Special Advis­er, Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu said, “ I was pained when I heard the news of the de­mise of Professor Adefuye .He was a seasoned envoy who used his wealth of ex­perience to strengthen the bilateral relationship be­tween the United States of America and Nigeria.
“Professor Adefuye was passionate, and committed to the Nigeria project as he gave his best in various capacities and positions na­tionally and internationally.
“Our prayers and thoughts are with his fam­ily.
In the same vein, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akin­wunmi Ambode, also ex­pressed shock and sadness over the sudden death of the late erudite diplomat.
Ambode, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, described Adefuye as one of the finest diplomats Nige­ria has produced in recent times, saying ‘his death comes as a shock to many, especially as he was in the twilight of his tenure.’
He noted that Adefuye played a pivotal role in re­viving the image of Nige­ria, and worked tirelessly to ensure that the nation was removed from the US terrorism watch list in the wake of the Boko Haram insurgency.
“We have lost a rare gem, a diplomat extra or­dinarie, who served this nation meritoriously. Our prayer is that his soul will find repose in the bosom of our Lord”.
“On behalf of the good people of Lagos State, I want to express our heart­felt condolence to the fam­ily of the deceased, the people of Ogun State, and Nigerians on this sad loss,” Governor Ambode said.
Mr. Adefuye who hailed from Ijebu-Igbo was born in 1947, studied at the Uni­versity of Ibadan where he earned his first degree in 1969, as well as a PhD in history in 1973. He also won a Fulbright Fellow­ship that enabled him to do research work at Columbia University, the University of North Florida, and the University of Florida in Gainesville.