IN what could be described as an embarrassment to their personality, the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Dr. Abba Sayyadi Ruma, Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu and the Publisher of Champion Newspapers, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu were among guests who were refused entry on Friday night into the official residence (a.k.a Abuja House) of the Nigerian High Commissioner, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida, in London for a dinner held in honour of the Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.
Nollywood star, Bob Manuel and Greg Agwunobi, the Welfare Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), United Kingdom (UK) Chapter, were also
among the distinguished guests who were denied access during the two-hour event.
But unlike his Niger State counterpart, who quickly turned back when the embassy aides refused to let them into the West London residence of the envoy, Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyako after about 10 minutes of delay was allowed to enter.
Although no member of staff of the Nigerian High Commission was available to explain why guests who arrived shortly after the 8 p.m. start time were locked out, sources later revealed that the embassy officials locked the gates as a matter of protocol, particularly because the Vice-President was delivering his speech.
But unlike what happened when President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was hosted to a similar event at the same venue last July, guests who were initially hopeful that they would be allowed in after Jonathan's speech became outraged as embassy staff turned deaf ears and eventually disappeared from the vicinity. Even when angry guests waved and showed their invitation cards, the embassy employees refused to open the gates and gave no excuse for their actions.
Ever before Ruma and Aliyu went away angrily around 8.50p.m., other guests had pleaded and made attempts to call some senior embassy staff, but like other angry guests, the duo couldn't reach anyone, and both went back to their chartered taxis without entering the premises.
Even Iwuanyanwu, who was limping and making use of a walking aid, left angrily after his pleading for about 30 minutes fell on deaf ears. At about 9.15p.m, when he turned to walk away, The Guardian approached him for comments, but he simply smiled and said, "I don't want to talk about it," before he entered his vehicle.
The President of the Bayelsa Peoples Union, Dr. Prince Efere was also left fuming, just like an unidentified white couple that stormed away, saying, "you don't invite guests and keep them waiting outside for 40 minutes."
Efere explained how he had been sent an invitation, only to be denied access. "I was in my office when they sent me the invitation, I didn't ask for it," he said.
As at 9.45p.m., when The Guardian left, none of those denied access had been allowed in. Although no official explanation could be given for the incident, some guests felt that the embassy officials lacked foresight and that they might have invited more guests than the venue could accommodate.
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