I received the news of the passing of Amb. Walter Carrington with shock and sadness. Amb. Carrington was a friend and a mentor. He was totally an African at heart. He loved Nigeria with unmatched passion, and played an unforgettable role in helping to enthrone democracy in that country, the world’s most populous black nation. At a period that has been described as the darkest days of their nation’s checkered history, he stood firmly on the side of Nigerians, fighting for justice and seeking an end to military rule.
I had the rare privileged of inviting him to the 70th anniversary of the University of Ibadan in London, an event organized by the diaspora body of the UI Alumni. He came in the company of his beautiful and highly sophisticated wife, Dr Arese Carrington, a worthy and distinguished alumnus of the great University. They both attended the four-day program held at the House of Commons, Chatham House and Hilton Hotel Mayfair. That event turned out to be one the university’s golden moments, especially on the global platform.
When Walter Carrington, a lifelong African specialist, became the American Ambassador to Nigeria, soon after the military leadership annulled the most credible elections ever held in the country, he knew that his assignment would not be an easy one. From the time of his arrival to his final weeks in the job, a range of issues that ran from democracy to human rights bedeviled his tenure. Nothing could have prepared Mr. Carrington for the seeming final act in his ambassadorship, when state security officials undertook a campaign of intimidation against people who had organized farewell parties for him.
In what Mr. Carrington, with an over 40 year-long familiarity with Nigeria called ”the most surrealistic experience I have had here yet,” heavily armed policemen invaded a well-attended reception in Mr. Carrington’s honor in Lagos, threatened to shoot the lead speaker, Pa. Abraham Adesanya and ordered the foreign guests, including the American Ambassador, to leave at once.
After grabbing the microphone from Pa. Adesanya who had begun to make introductory remarks in honor of Mr. Carrington, one policeman threatened to shoot Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, the human rights activist, who defiantly grabbed another microphone and sought to address the stunned crowd.
May the soul of Amb. Carrington, a seasoned diplomat and irrepressible human rights advocate, rest in perfect peace. Nigeria, University of Ibadan, Hen Foundation, and my humble self will forever remain grateful to him for his enduring sacrifice and inimitable contribution to the evolution of our democracy.
Good Night 🙏
Amb. Walter ‘Omowale Carrington
(1930-2020)
J. O. Eniola
President
Hen Foundation
UI Alumni Global Network
London
Thursday, 13/08/2020.
