AFRICAN YOUTH BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP NETWORK
“Reading maketh a full man;
Conference a ready man;
And writing an exact man”
Francis Bacon 1561-1621
THE YOUTH QUESTION
“If all agreed that the Youth question is the most troubling challenge in this country,
we must then summon the will to harness necessary resources for
Youth Empowerment.”
Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi – Nigerian Minister of Youth Development
“WE in Nigeria have taken the Youth question to a level of
National Priority and am glad to inform this gathering that we have
a budgetary increase of almost 50% in 2008 for the Youth sector
such as developing Integrated Youth employment action,
National Youth Development Report, Youth Development index,
Inter-State Youth Exchange, Youth Parliament, Youth
Against Drug Abuse Youth for Conservation, Review of
National Youth Policy,
Compilation of Directory of Youth Organisations in Nigeria,
Reform of National Youth Service Scheme and reform of the
National Youth Council of Nigeria.”
Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi
Nigerian Minister of Youth Development
“President Yar’Adua has designed a vision of where Nigerians
Should be in the by the year 2020 and to achieve that, we need
Resources, capacity support as well as partnership from those
Who have experience.”
Charles Ugwu
Nigerian Minister of Commerce & Industry
“Africa needs Nigeria to become an industrial Giant.
We can join hands to support the move and the ambition of
the Nigerian government of Nigeria to actualize
the new industrial strategy.”
Kandeh Yumkilla
– D.G. United Nations Industrial Development Organisation
“The drift all over the whnole the world is the
Exploitation of human capacity above natural resources.
We need quality manpower to propel the needed growth in the
Various sectors of the economy.”
Dr. Oladimeji Alo
President Chartered Institute of Personnel Management
“Human Capital Development is a veritable tool
For economic and social development.
No nation can attain the Millenium Development Goals
Without paying attention to man power development.”
Umar Musa Yar’Adua GCFR
President and Commander-in-Chief, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
“Having identified Human Capital Development
As a prerequisite for national development,
government should match words with action,
and make specific budgetary allocations
for capacity building.”
Gbodimowo Alfred Sunday
Executive Chairman PM Global Consulting.
.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Nigeria: Living A Generational Insult
FOREWORD
As I write I don't habour any ill against our colonialists who in the course of our history have offered us so much, but as a son or daughter of our Motherland Africa, It behoves on us to move on and live our lives after all the lessons colonialism and iperialism has taught us,and the sweetness of freedom to do our will [Independence].
CHAPTER ONE
NEGRIA, NIGGERIA, NIGERIA OR NIGGER-AREA?
nig·ger [níggər](plural nig·gers) A highly offensive term for a black personA highly offensive term for a dark-skinned person[Late 17th century. Alteration of Negro1 ] See insult.
Is it that one of the greatest “Black Most Populous Nation on Earth” is preoccupied with the business of nation-building that it has not bothered about the name it bears?
A “baptismal name” we have since 1914, more than 90years of our history and we have not bothered to ask whence it came or what factor(s) that may have influenced our nation been “insulted” by our Colonial Masters?
If over time we have refused that our constitution should not read “We the people...” is it not also proper that we critically look at the name we bear as a nation?
What if the land and people called Nigeria today was actually a derivative of two words; Nigger and Area? (my hypothesis).
What if we can prove beyond reasonable doubt that there was nothing like River “Niger” in the 16th Century, before the Colonialist gave it that name and want us to believe that the name Nigeria was derived from “River Niger”?
What if we have all been deceived and we have being living a generational insult as trade-mark of British Colonialism around the world.
What if it can be proven that the name Nigeria was an insult on the sensibility of all those people who are known and called by that name?
What if this article is capable of shedding light on some of the hidden connotation in our National Name Nigeria?
What will you do if wherever you go people “insult” you with a name your parents gave you and you came to realize it someday?
There exits various pointers and suggestions for all of these questions because I have spent a considerable part of my life experimenting on which names to call myself.
I hereby present my first evidence on the true character of British colonialist from the colonisation of Australia. This is taken from Encarta definition of the English word, “Insulter”:
-in·sult·er, , noun Insults
“English has insulting words for most races and cultures with which its speakers have come into extended contact, and for so-called minority groups within English-speaking societies, even though such groups can and do constitute demographic majorities in many regions. When the people insulted are English speakers, the insulting words can and often do become part of their own vocabulary. Those insulted will generally avoid using these terms in interaction with their insulters, since to do so would be to endorse the insulters' view of them. However, among themselves they may well deliberately adopt an insult in order to subvert it or rob it of its power. For instance, Australian Aboriginals reportedly are not averse to using terms like Abo and blackfella when talking with one another, even though they are highly offensive when applied to them by non-Aboriginals. Similarly, other groups may defy their detractors by adopting the insults directed at them: gay people may refer to themselves, polemically, as queer, as in Queer Nation; and some feminists have struck back against ageist putdowns by reclaiming crone and making it their own.”
Even the word Negro by thesame dictionary definition is not a respite maybe a suggestion that the massive land and people be called “Negria” a derivative from the word Negro, could not pass the “First Reading” of Lord Frederick Lugard Kitchen Cabinet because the educated blacks (not much at the time) might decipher sooner than later that the word is an insult as is defined:
“Ne·gro [ngrō]
(plural Ne·groes)
noun
[Mid-16th century. < Spanish and Portuguese < Latin nigr- "black"]
Though Negro is still used in certain restricted formulaic expressions, it is not the preferred term for people of color such as African Americans. Use instead African American, woman of color, man of color, or people of color.”
It is true that before the middle of the 16th Century (1745 AD), less than 400years ago there was no such word as Negro in the English usage as this explanation suggests:
“Negro, Spanish and Portuguese word for “black,” adopted into English in the 16th century to refer to dark-skinned peoples indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa. In Europe and North America, the descendants of African slaves have been referred to as Negroes; however, most people now consider the term a pejorative and prefer the terms black or African American.”
So from whence did the name became such a beautiful connotation less than 220years ago that today we now have “River Niger”, “Republic of Niger”, “Niger State”. This next explanation, shed light on the fact that the word “Niger” was unknown before the European explorers,
“Europeans had long known that a massive river flowed through the West African savannah, but its course remained a mystery.”
It will be appropriate to state that “River Niger” was romanticed as “... a massive river flowed through the West African savannah”. The question is when did this massive river become “river Niger”?
The answer is provided:
The expedition of Scottish explorer Mungo Park from 1795 to 1798 proved the Niger flowed eastward, .... The Niger mystery was finally solved through expeditions headed by Scottish explorer Hugh Clapperton from 1823 to 1825 and by British explorer Richard Lemon Lander in 1830. French explorers, most importantly René-Auguste Caillié, also visited parts of the upper and middle Niger during the 19th century.
The naming of “River Niger” is suggested to be less than 211years. This is because the information Mungo Park set out to clarify between 1795 to 1798 was, which way and from whence did the “massive river” flow?
He discovered that this “massive river”, Nigger (river), a river in western Africa, flows primarily from west to east, through Guinea, Mali, Niger, Benin, and Nigeria to the Gulf of Guinea. All areas occupied by “Niggers”, black people.
It is apt to report to his home government that the river flows from east to west in an “Area” primarily occupied by Niggers. To call this “massive river”, “River Nigger” will be saying the obvious.
The word Negroid is also defined as “offensive” because unlike Caucasoid it denotes primitives.
Ne·groid [n gròyd]
adjective
adjective
“...an offensive term meaning belonging or relating to a group, in a former classification of humankind, that originated in Africa (dated)”
On the other hand a Caucasian is thus defined:
“...of former ethnic group: belonging to the light-skinned peoples of Europe, northern Africa, and western and southern Asia, formerly considered a distinct ethnic group.”
(See Microsoft® Encarta® 2006. © 1993-2005 Microsoft Corporation for all quotations made here.)
Long, long time ago the people and land space called Nigeria today, have been variously ruled by other civilisations of African origin known by different names with seat of administration in different part of the country.
For another day and time, we will take a look at two great civilizations, the Kush and the Nok that exerted very heavy influence in today land mass and people called Nigeria. It will be with a view to adopt a name that reflects our true identity.
Till then I look forward to a robust discussion on the viability or otherwise of opening discussion on the desirability for a new name for this great country.
Send in your petition to:
Monday, April 28, 2008
MT MBU - The Project
LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY
DIPLOMATIC CAREER OF AMBASSADOR MATTHEW TAWO MBU1955 - 1999.
BY OGAR MICHAEL BROWNEMATRIC NO: 99/03/04/102
A project submitted to the Department of History and International Studies in partial fulfillment for the award of a Bachelor of Arts Degree of the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos. DECEMBER 2004 CERTIFICATIONI certify that this project was carried out by Ogar Michael Browne, Matriculation Number 99-03-04-102, in the Department of History and International Studies, Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University under my supervision. ------------------------------ Dr (Mrs) Modupeola Faseke Signature DateAssociate Professor ------------------------------ ---------------------------- Head of Department. Signature Date ---------------------------- ----------------------------- External Invigilator Signature Date
DEDICATIONThis project is dedicated to the evergreen memory of:
STEPHEN OGAR OKORI and JOHN OKWOCHE OFFOBOCHE.Your efforts are not in vain.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
To the countless faces that have assisted me in every little way, I owe my thanks of gratitude for without you I wont be where I am today.Funke Agbayewa, I say a big thank you for kick-starting me on this course.Larry Aggrey and Larry Okache are my most wonderful friends and will continue to be for another life-years ahead. To all members of NACRISS-LASU and NANDES-LASU, Worldwide-Current Crew and members of NPIC-LASU I urge you to keep up your dreams they shall find an outlet soon. Special thanks goes to my lecturers, most particularly my supervisor, Associate Professor (Mrs) Faseke with whose assistance this project became a reality. To Ernest, Dotuchowo and Johnson I say thank you so much for chosen me in spite of every thing. Words will not suffice to quantify the family surpport I got from the Abbi’s: Okwo-fasa (Xty-Salon), Tope and Ochuko.I thank my Brothers and Sisters Odo, Ogar and Ebiala, Ogbene and Ochuole for keeping up the struggle in the face of numerous challenges.Ngozi Arinze, Maka, ‘Okadigbo’, ‘Kabiyesi’, Tola, Lizzy, Bidemi, Carol, Eyop, Favour, Bukky, Dantes,Ichofu, Collette, Lialian and …you’ve all been helpful.Finally, my gratitude goes to Ambassador, Dr. Matthew Tawo Mbu for the several interviews he granted me in the course of this work.
Table of Contents
Title Pages
Certification
iiDedication
iiiAcknowledgement
ivTable of Contents
v - vi Chapter One
1 - 7INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background of the study
1 - 31.1 Objective of Study
31.2 Significance of Study
3 - 41.3 Scope and Limitation of Study
5 - 6References and End-Notes 7Chapter Two 8 - 122.0 Literature Review 82.1 Significance of Biographical Writings 8 - 11References and End-Notes 12 Chapter Three 13 - 203.0 Early Life 13 - 173.1 Family 17 - 193.2 Educational Background 19 - 20References and End-Notes 21Chapter Four 22 - 494.0 A Humble Servant 22 - 234.1 Contributions and Achievements 23- 424.2 Philosophy and Reflections 42 – 46References and End-Notes 47 - 49Chapter Five 50 - 555.1 Conclusion. 50 - 55References and End-Notes 56 Bibliography 57 - 61
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background of the study
“Anytime Nigerians have problems they run to Matthew Mbu
because he has the key to the United Nations”.1
–Professor Siyan Oyeweso
One of the surprises in the conduct of this research was the lack of materials to work on a personality believed as stated above by Professor Siyan Oyeweso, Head of Department (2002-2004) , History and International Studies, Lagos State University to be one of those few Nigerian still alive “who has the keys to the United Nations.”
Chief Matthew Tawo Mbu ranked amongst the first in Nigerian history of Diplomats. As the pioneer Diplomat and First High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1955-1959, First Nigerian Chief Representative to Washington DC, United State of America (U.S.A) and First Nigerian Chief Representative to the United Nations within the same period, it was a surprise that little or nothing has been written on him.
The marriage of convenience between the two political parties the National Council of Nigerian Congress and the Northern Peoples Congress in the 1959 election to form Coalition Government is said to be premised on six conditions:
“That Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe should become the governor General from Independence Day.
That the cutting-out of Mid-West State from the Western Region should be taken up, that the Federal Capital Territory be extended.
That no appointment be made without consultation.
That Mr. Matthew Mbu (the former Minister from the East, who had been removed from Washington Embassy after allegation of financial and other irresponsibility should be re-instated), and that a new Speaker be elected as soon as the new House resume sitting.”2
Whatever may be the reason for Mr. Matthew Mbu’s removal from the core Washington Embassy; one clear fact demonstrated by his party with the condition that he be named a Minister in the New Cabinet attest to the fact that there was a foul play, which the National Council of Nigerian Congress (NCNC) seeks to redress on his behalf. A condition that was met.
The exploits of young Mr. Matthew Mbu were mentioned when Muhammad Ribadu the then Minister of Defence referred to him as “An emergent youthful NCNC figure” it was Mbu who, when the elected officials before independence where at a loss on what to call the leader of a yet to be properly constituted government. Mr. M.T. Mbu suggested that he be called the “Leader of Government Business” or “Captain of the Ministerial Team”. This suggestion became officially accepted as the right title to address the Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in waiting.
For this singular show of ingenuity and intellect, Mr. Matthew Mbu as one of the youngest politicians at the time became endeared to the Prime Minister without realizing it and in the process opened a new chapter in his life as a Diplomat.
1.2 Objective of the study
This research project is undertaken to present a historical analysis of the Diplomatic Career of Ambassador Matthew Tawo Mbu and his contributions to the growth and conduct of Nigerian International Relations. It also attempts a critical examination of the period and socio-economic background and its effect on his overall objective in the attainment of his career goal.
The project shall also discuss the participation of Ambassador Mbu and his roles in the formulation and adoption of Policies and programmes in his official capacity as a Nigerian Diplomat and a Statesman at home and at international events.
1.3 Significance of study
This study is important for several reasons.
The study will constitute an essential contribution to the much-needed literature required by students of history and international diplomacy.
The study will help fill the gaps in the existing body of literature on the subject of the diplomatic career of Ambassador Mbu.
The study is also expected to augment several essays written about his contributions to Nigerian international diplomacy. Mention will be made of his various roles as Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, as Nigeria’s first High Commissioner to Britain, First Nigerian Chief Representative in United Nations, Chief Negotiator on United Nations Organisation on Disarmament Conference, Geneva and others.
With Nigeria partial Independence as at 1955, it could have been considered difficult for a young Nigerian Ambassador to give good account of his stewardship, considering the fact that he was not a career diplomat at the time and had never received such training prior to his appointment.
To combine studies with the responsibility of serving as a Nigerian High Commissioner to Britain was in every respect a daunting task. This assumption is cogent giving the present situation of appointment of very experienced officials of advanced age to what then is available to the brightest and the most promising.
The performance of Ambassador Mbu at the young age of 26 as Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom can be said to be an experiment that paid off at the long run.
This study intends to draw an historical analysis of particularly his active diplomatic years between 1955-1999 to present a tool for posterity of his perceptions on international issues.
The study of the social background of Dr. Mbu will to an extent throw light on what shapes his character and how it influences his community, social institution, organization and society.
His achievement in the diplomatic calling will also be viewed from the prevalent national environment and whether it supports or it was solely a matter of self-discipline, focus and drive to succeed.
The making and formulation of Nigeria’s foreign policies over the years have been greatly influenced in no small way with his contributions and pronouncement and deserving academic investigations.
As the Chief Delegate most times to some of this events of international importance, his stand on behalf of Nigeria, will to a large extent reveal his philosophy and inner conviction of why he voted for or against issues in international conferences.
What influenced his positions on certain matters will also be viewed with the aim of determining the place of family, marriage, early life and continuous education in the conduct of his career in the international circuit. The question of whether or not his actions or inaction in certain matters may have greatly influenced Nigeria’s position in the comity of nations is however not in doubt.
1.4 Scope and limitation of study
This study shall be limited to the diplomatic career of Ambassador Matthew Tawo Mbu particularly his most active diplomatic years from 1955 to 1999 which can be regarded as his international years.
References and Endnotes
1. Professor Siyan Oyeweso, Senior Lecturer and Former Head of Department (History and International Studies) Lagos State University, 16 August 2004. 11.30am.
2. Trevor Clark A Right Honorable Gentleman (The Life And Times Of Alhaji, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa) Zaria, Hudahuda publishing company Ltd, 1991. pg 251-252
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature Review
Introduction
The term History according to Professor Adam Ferguson, can generally be used to signify an account of some remarkable facts which he said must, “have happened in the past and arranged in the true order in which they actually took place together with the causes to which they were owing and the different effects they have produced, as far as can be discovered.”1
To satisfy the recording of what he regarded as facts, which have happened, he said man is the only one single factor that can record these facts.
Mark Twain puts it this way in his autobiography:
“Gods greatest creation? Man. Who found it? Man.” 2
The power of the individual as the strongest single factor in the shaping of history is therefore the study of man himself as the maker of history, and this can be found only in very rich biographies of persons who have helped shaped it through their lives.
2.1 Significance of Biographical Writings
History comes from the Greek verbs “I know”. Historians in ancient time who were looked upon as great men were called “poly historie”, that is person of various and general knowledge.
From the beginning of the subject of history, the individual is always looked upon as providing the materials for the writing and recording of history.
Biographies from all intents and purposes are the bedrock on which the subject of history revolves. This point is worth repeating. Some scholars have come up with derogatory terms to qualify biographies one of which is that of Acton in his book Home And Foreign Reviews, when he wrote, “Nothing causes more error and unfairness in man’s view of history than the interest which is inspired by individual characters.” his conclusion was that “good biographies makes bad history”3
E.H. Carr disagrees when he wrote, “…some biographies are serious contributions to history.” He cited such works as, Isaac Deutscher’s biographies of Stalin and Trotsky to buttress his point. The submission of Marx in Gesamtausgabe sums up the relevance of man as an integral part of any serious writings of history when he said, “History does nothing it possesses no immense wealth, and fights no battles. It is rather man, real living man who does everything, who possesses and fights.”
Carlyle was more direct when he asserts that, “History is the biography of great men.” This goes to confirm the earlier claim that the society and the individual are inseparable; it is in fact agreed that, “Society and the individual are necessary and complimentary to each other, not opposites.”
As soon as a man is born, the world gets to work on him, transforming him from the helpless merely biological entity into a social unit. This man is the embodiment of history without which the subject of history cannot exist. A.P. Pareira believes that the “…reason why America seems to be growing faster than other countries is because they know how to feed their citizens with biographies” this further goes to demonstrate the fact that biographical writings like other works of science can impact seriously on development of a state.
The exploits of great men such as Abraham Lincoln and other men in history can only come alive through the works of good biographers. Great biographical works in Nigeria such as that of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa: The Right Honorable Gentleman, that of S.L. Edu, The Journey From Epe, and that of Chief Adede, The Portrait Of A Leader are few examples.
The essence of these biographies is to present a semblance of a blueprint for younger individuals to either learn from their search for independent assessment of the society they live in or appreciate how the lives of these heroes have helped shaped their history.
The writings of biographies in Nigeria as in elsewhere most often tell stories of great men of significant achievements. It portrays the good ideal and down plays the ugly side of such personalities written about. This is deliberate as a highlight on the good fortune is supposed to rub off positively on the younger generations whose duties it was to take the society to the next level. However, this approach does not foreclose the existence of bad biographies as they carries within their pages very useful lessons. It may be for this reason that one scholar was quick to conclude on this seemingly one-sided nature of some biographies when he wrote that this type of academic pursuit is nothing but perverse history, this not withstanding biographies have generally served good purposes.
Writing on the importance of biographical work especially his autobiography Dr. Adebo said that as soon as he made his intention to leave the Foreign Service, he was inundated with several request to write. “…they began to urge that I should lose no time, upon my retirement from the united Nations, to set down in writing some of the thoughts that I had shared with them over a period of some ten years concerning the problems that face humanity”.4
He sees his autobiography as a contribution to the enhancement of the field of diplomacy.
The view of Peter Osamgbi, writing in Thisday Newspaper on the topic “The 3 Musketeers Owe Us Autobiographies” summarises our discussion on the essence of biographical writings. He wrote: “Biography is a genre of history that gives us valuable insights into the activities of a particular individual within a period of time and to a large extent within the society in which the person lives in.”5
If biographies represents what the author wrote above and if it is true that “…before men fall prey to their own shortcomings, history would have sounded repeatedly the many sides of the lesson they should have learnt from similar cases in the past.”6 Then the essence of biographical writings as a genre of historical writings is the mother of all history.
References and End-Notes
1. Professor Adam Fergusson LL.D History, Britanica 2002 Deluxe Edition.
2. Geddes & Grosset Dictionary of Quotations Ibadan, Child’s Play Books Ltd, (1994). Pg. 61.
3. Eddy Odivwry Nothing Last Forever, Lagos, Nigeria, Thisday Newspaper,. February 21, 2004. pg. 49. vol. 10. No. 3226.
4. E.H Carr What is History, London, Penguin Book,. 1961. pg 257.
5. Chief Simeon O. Debo Our Unforgettable Years, Nigeria, Lagos, Macmillan, 1984. pg 14.
6. Peter Osamgbi “The 3 Musketeers owes us Autobiographies” Lagos, Nigeria, Thisday Newspaper. February 21, 2004 pg 36, vol. 10. No. 3226.
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Early Life
Chief Matthew Tawo Mbu was born in Okundi, present Boki Local Government Area in the old Ogoja Province of Cross River State on November 20, 1929.
His father, Chief Tawo Mbu was a Produce Merchant trader and farmer. As far as Mbu can remember, he never in his childhood suffered from any lack. His father he said had enough for his family of three wives and nine children at the time.
His father was a member of the Osokom royal family and a community spokesman like his father before him. He was conscripted twice into the Colonial Police as Inspector and twice he deserted because he never wanted to be a police officer but to be like his own father a spokesperson and a merchant.
In spite of growing up in a polygamous home, Dr. Mbu said his home was a happy one as there was no major crisis in the family throughout his growing up years. Everybody in the family he said looked after the other member of the family. He recalled how fun it all was sharing with his other siblings in almost every sphere of life as they indulged in all sorts of childhood antics.
If polygamy is that fun as he described it, why did he chose to marry one and he was quick to add that “it is not always fun, it also had its set-back growing up in a large family. There were petty jealousies especially among our mothers, who sometimes openly show dislike for other brothers and sisters. It must have been hard on them.”1 He believed.
His grandfather was a popular man in the village and known to be very generous too. As the best athlete, he was known far and wide and a champion of the community as a whole.
Matthew Mbu believes that sports generally runs in the family and recounted his youthful days in the mission school when he used to out-run his entire peer in the 50 yards.
“My youngest son, is presently carrying on the tradition” he said displaying a picture of his child taken before a major race in his college in England.
In school, he was so brilliant that “…his principal and teacher, Revd. Fr. Patrick Meeham would at times leave the class for him to teach. He would later make time specially to teach Matthew secondary school subjects such as prose and poetry, geometry, trigometry and elementary maths.”2
Okundi his home place was a center of missionary activities as the only mission school at the time was situated there. Going to the mission every Sunday to attend the Catholic Church and see the “Okaghanra”, 3 white man “speak through his nose” was something of a delight to look forward to every Sunday.
He soon was enrolled into the Catholic Mission School where his desire to speak like the white-man assumed a more realistic proportion. All he wanted in that childlike fantasy was to become like the Reverend Father.
He became so obsessed with the idea of becoming a priest that his father who had a different plan for his favorite son had to seek out the Irish Reverend advise on what to do. The Reverend father requested the young man be brought to him for counseling.
As a community leader, Chief Tawo Mbu had wanted his son to become a lawyer and desire that he attends Saint Patrick’s College, in Calabar after which he would proceed to England to study Law and become like his ideal lawyer, Lawyer Thomas a Lagos based legal Practitioner whom he admired so much. Most importantly he believed strongly that his son will tow the family tradition of been a community spokesperson. To him, this ranked higher to any services a person can render to his people at the time. However, he secretly nursed the ambition of producing the first lawyer in the small town of Okundi.
Recalling this particular incidence that was to change his life forever, Mbu said that all he wanted at the time was to be like the his mentor, an Irish Priest Reverend Father Patrick Meeham who had five Degrees so that he can be addressed as “Reverend father, Doctor, Matthew ‘Itawo’4 Mbu, LL.B., LL.M., D.Phil., D.Litt, M.B.A.
The Irish Priest Reverend Father Patrick Meeham as the reverend father in charge of the Catholic mission in Okundi, had had to attend to all sorts of complaints and counseling as part of his daily routine in his Parish.
On this particular occasion when Chief Mbu one of his flock and his son, Young Mathew, a boy he christened during his baptism came calling, he had to again perform his duty of “the child must obey his parents” sermon.
When they both arrived, he wasted no time in delivering a sermon that uptill date Ambassador Mbu believed was the voice of God speaking through the Reverend father. He was so frightened by the Reverend father’s countenance when he looked into his eyes and said the following words to him:
“You are not born for the Priesthood! You not are born for the Priesthood! You are born to help your people; You are not born for the Priesthood. You are born to help your people
“Matthew! Listen to your father, you must listen to your father!”
These words of prophecy did in fact sealed his dreams of having five degrees and becoming a priest then. Instead he went ahead to follow the words of the lrish priest and that of the father when at the young age of 22 in 1952 he began his journey of “speaking for his people” when he was nominated to represent the Eastern House of Assembly and House of Representatives as a member of Ogoja House of Representatives.5
On his home town Okundi his birth place he said “Okundi is my humble village and the place that I have chose, with all seriousness that at the end of my time, I should be laid to rest there so to me, it is everything.”
He stressed that his almost fanatical attachment to his home place was because, “…first and foremost, I have always been a village-boy, very attached to the community, brought up there, so whatever exposure I have had in life, I owe the origin to the village, to the community and I want to be part of it to eternity.” This description of his early life and his childhood days preparatory to his service to Nigeria is an obvious indication that his years outside his community and his various achievements are traceable to his spirit of communal responsibility. A seed he sowed while growing up at Okundi, his “humble village”.
3.1 Family
Ambassador Matthew Tawo Mbu is happily married to the love of his life, Katherine Mbu, (nee Anigbo) on the 22 October 1955. They have six children, four boys and two girls. The second son, is the first Nigerian to attend Eaton College London graduating with a first class Degree in Law died at a very early age of 36. His other children he said are doing fine while his eldest son is now a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Recalling how he contracted his marriage, he believed it was one of those few unions that are made in heaven.
“To tell you the truth” he began “my announcement for marriage was made before I made up my mind to pick a wife. Two weeks before, so the result was that all the small girls that knew me said, “is it me, is it me? …It all started on 30th September 1955” he recalled when the ‘captain of government business,’6 Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa told him that he will be making two announcement; one for his journey to the United Kingdom as the First Nigeria Pioneer Diplomat, the High commissioner for Nigeria and the other announcement for his marriage.
He reported that the prime minister told him “…you must not go to London unaccompanied, we are going to add an announcement for your marriage! You see Matthew, you are very popular, we see so many girls hanging around you and we don’t want you to go without a companion and therefore you must promise you will get wedded before you leave.”
Everything it seems, that has posited him in very advantageous situation both in career life and family were revelation first from the Irish Priest, Reverend Father Patrick Mehaam, and even his marriage influenced by an external factor, the Prime Minister. These two, his venture into Diplomacy and his marriage have given him unlimited pleasure and fulfillment and he had no regret following first his father’s wish and the prime minister. To him he said it is the act of God working in his life through them. He was quick to add that his children have had a free hand unlike him to chart their future and close their individual paths and that so far they have made the best of choices for themselves even when he did not enjoy such luxury.
His family he said gives him the greatest joy and the only sad moment was when he had to burry his son.
Mathew Mbu was the first in the history of his community to build his own mausoleum while still alive! This act was considered a taboo. To him, he saw nothing wrong with a man preparing himself for an inevitable journey by preparing his resting place.
According to him, the mausoleum was built for himself, his wife and a “guest” and never in his wildest dream believed that the unknown guest was going to be his son.
The death of his son brought with it what he called a malicious insinuation that he had a hand in his son’s death thus, his deciding to built the grave in advance in exchange for long his personal long life. He said he was very unhappy when he got to hear about it, that a community he loved and respected its people could trivialized a father’s love for his death child.
It was his pillar of strength, his wife who provided the shoulder for him to find solace and the energy to put everything behind him and continue to render his services to his community and the nation at large. But for his wife he believed the encounter would have affected him very badly. With her by his side he said he had enjoyed tremendously the journey of life and that, “If there is anything as re-incarnation, I will want to come back and still want to be married to Katherine, my wife, the love of my life.”
3.2 Educational Background
“Chief, Dr. Matthew Tawo Mbu, LL.B (Hons), LL.M., Ph.D., Diploma in International Affairs (Dip. I.A.) (Lond). Barrister-at-Law, of the Hounorable Society of the Middle Temple 1959. Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria 1960.”7
The above is the beginning of Dr. Mbu’s Curriculum Vitae displaying some of his educational laurels received over the years from his humble beginning when he started his primary education in the Roman Catholic Mission School in his hometown, Okundi from 1937 to 1940.
In 1941, he secured admission to Kakwagon Seminary and was there until 1943.
He enrolled for a postal tuition with Wosley Hall College in Oxford London from 1943 to 1945 where he obtained a Diploma in International Affairs.
He attended the University of London as an external candidate from 1955 to 1959 while serving as the first Nigerian High commissioner to that country.
On graduation, Dr. Mbu was called to the English Bar at middle Temple Inns, London, the same night by the same College with Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, the former British prime minister.
He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1960.
He had his Ph.D in Law from the University of Ibadan and holds several academic awards among which are Honoris causa LL.D. University of Ibadan, 1987 D.Litt. University of Cross River state (now University of Uyo) 1991, LL.D. University of Calabar 1992,
D.Litt., Abia State University 1996 with an LL.B (Hons) in 1959; LL.M in 1964 and a PhD in 1986, Chief Dr Matthew Tawo Mbu can be said to have a rich educational background.
He has served as the Pro-Chancellor University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) between 1980 to 1984, Chancellor Abia State University since 1996 and is the Government, Homewood House School, Tunbridge Wells, Kent in England.
He is a Fellow of the London Institute of World Affairs and the current President of the Nigerian Society of International Law.
References and End-Notes
M.T. Mbu, (75) Diplomat, Foreign Affairs Minister-ING, 12 September, 2004.
Patricia Dede Otuedon Hallmark of Labour vol.3, Lagos, Mahogany Limited, 1999. pg. 151.
‘Okhaghanra’ A word used in the local dialect to refer to white Missionaries.
Itawo, According to Chief Mbu the ‘I’ in his middle name was subsequently omitted from his original name to what he bears today as Tawo.
Senator D.O. Dafinone, OFR. Who’s Who in Nigeria Ajao-Estate Lagos, Nigerian International Biographical Centres, , Naycee Press & Publishers 1999.
6. Trevor Clark A Right Honorable Gentleman (The Life And Times Of Alhaji, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa) Zaria, Hudahuda publishing company Ltd 1991.
7. Curriculum Vitae of Ambassador M.T. Mbu updated 2004.
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 A Humble Servant.
The achievements and contributions of any individual to the society in which he lived and served most times can be used as an assessment of where he or she stands in that particular society. This much was the view of Mbu when he said, “…from the part of country where I come, we don’t lobby. So whatever I have achieved today is not because I lobbied for them but either an act of God that places me at the right place and the right time, or I am most times suitable for that particular assignment.”1
He sighted an example of how it was Okotie-Eboh the then Minister of Finance who often tells him to go and greet the Prime Minister because according to him, “…Sir Abubakar is very fond of you and often talk about you all the time.”2
His appointment to London had very qualified people in the corridor of power going to the Prime Minister begging to be appointed which surprised Alhaji Tafawa Balewa when he had to embargo that same job for six months so that Mr. Mbu “…can go and think about it.”
Mr. Mbu at the time with all due respect is a comfortable young man as he was then a Cabinet Minister. Herbert Onwuka Uneagbu, a former Editor of the West African Pilot, described him this way, “Mbu drove into Lagos in a Chevrolet Coupe with Green colours. He was a prosperous businessman and Director of the multi-national company, John-Holt, at Bansara. He was among the select one-fifth of the Federal Legislator who had posh cars; as such he got instant attention on the street of Lagos during sessions of the house. Well over half of the Legislators then especially those from the north, were professional politicians. M.T. dressed smartly and invariably in a dark or blue coloured business shirt. He cut quite a figure with his youthful looks and studious mien, as he strode into the House clutching a briefcase…”3
Maybe for this reason he was incorruptible and enjoyed such freedom of utterance when talking on corruption. “I have never stolen a penny from Nigeria!” he had instead contributed immensely to Nigeria through very genuine transactions on behalf of his beloved country.
4.1 Contributions and Achievements
The Democratic Government of President Olusegun Obasanjo awarded the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic CFR to Chief Matthew Tawo Mbu in the year 2000 the highest any Nigerian can get except he were a President or a Head of State.4
He has held more than seventeen public offices out of which ten were ministerial appointments but most importantly, he has led or represented Nigeria in several meetings among the best the world can present to discuss issues as it borders on their home country’s foreign policy position.5
He holds several chieftaincy titles among which are, Otu Agrinya6 of Boki and Ada-Idaha-ke-Eburutu.
He was reluctant to give his opinion on what he believed were, his major contributions and achievements first as a Diplomat and as a Statement, Dr, Mbu’s reaction was that “I don’t blow my trumpet there are records there for everyone to see.”
Prodded further on this issue his reasons were that as a member of the society that was given the opportunity to serve, his contributions or achievements belongs to the governments and people of Nigeria and not in any way a thing of personal glory. “Other persons with the same opportunity such as the one I had would have also been able to do what I did. I was only privileged to be where I found myself and I did my best.”
To Alexander Omini a Barrister at Law from Ediba in Abi Local Government Area of Cross-River State. Mbu in his opinion is a man of “Self-actualisation” who did not affect the community or the people. Particularly the youth who know little or nothing about him as there’s no such evidence of his contributions on ground except the story of his mausoleum.”7
The various achievements of ambassador M.T. Mbu can be encapsulated in the words of his sons Patrick Mbu and Senator Mark Mbu. To Patrick, he said, “He has been privileged” and to Senator Mark Mbu, “My father is a very gentle and modest man and irrespective of all achievements in life he remains humble.”
Political Contributions
The achievement of Ambassador Matthew Tawo Mbu, indeed are numerous but he holds very dear his encounter with Chinua Achebe world renowned novelist and the role he played in what he eventually turned out to be.
“When I was chairman of the Eastern public service commission during the pogrom in 1967, one of those persons that came to my office in search for a job was Chinua Achebe from Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (N.B.C) I decided to send him to the University of Nigerian Nsukka as a teacher from where today he has become a household name.
In the second Republic his long time friend Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), approached him to run as vice-president and because he did not wish to betray his party, he recommended to him Dr. Alex Ekwueme a man who had lost the governorship nomination of his party the NPN in Imo state.
Shagari was assured that Alex Ekwueme was innocent of any political corruption and that his friend and colleague Professor Kenneth Dike has vouched to his good character.
“ I made Alex Ekwueme Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1979 when I recommended him to my friend Alhaji Shehu Shagari, here in my house.”
As the Minister for the Navy, Dr Mbu was mandated to form a strong and virile Navy for the Nigerian Nation. He immediately set to work and converted the Department of marine into what today has become the Nigerian Navy.
He recalled that when Nigeria was to acquire her flagship, the then minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammad Ribadu approved an allocation of 6.5 million pounds. As the Minister in charge of the Navy, he made a request to compare prices with other countries since at the time he was on his way to Geneva to replace the Nigerian Minister in the Foreign Affairs, Mr Jaja Nwachukwu at the disarmament conference.
“ I did not only come back with a flagship befitting the Nigerian Navy for 2.8million Pounds and saved 3.7 million Pounds but had a deal to pay back the 2.8 million Pounds in ten years interest free!”
Mr. Peter De Young, the minister of Defence of Holland at the time, he said made a present of two ships as his country’s contribution to the Nigerian Navy.
“So we had three ships for 2.8million pounds instead of one flagship for 6.5 million pounds we were supposed to buy from England.”
Some years later he said that same ship he acquired for almost nothing was said to gulp more than 18million Pounds for just refitting.
Disarmament Conference
The disarmament conference to Dr. Mbu is very dear to him in all the list of priority of his diplomatic career, not even his election every year consecutively for five years as the unopposed candidate for the Vice President of the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) is as important. He remains the only Nigerian who have so risen or stayed that long on the world body of the highest and largest legislative meeting of all member countries. He remembered Professor Clarke from Poland and Professor Larn from India as two of the Presidents he served.
Jaja Nwachukwu the Nigerian Foreign minister was the Nigerian Representative in that conference, his inability to conduct himself befitting of the country he represented was to finally lead to his withdrawal as Nigerian chief Representative to that conference and in his stead, MT Mbu was directed to take his place. Recalling what led to Jaja Nwachukwu withdrawal, Dr. Mbu said, “Jaja on arrival in Geneva made a costly grammatical blunder when the International Press asked what has Nigeria got to offer on disarmament?
Jaja replied, “As for Nigeria, I come with an empty mind” he meant ‘I come with an open mind’.
News Agencies; the Voice of America, BBC, the whole Europe the next day carried the news that Nigerian Delegate to the Disarmament Conference came with an empty mind so what contributions can he possibly make to such serious discussion? Abubakar was flustered and he said, ‘Jaja again?’
In another development, Jaja’s photograph was taken while taking a nap during proceeding. The news had his picture with the caption that ‘Empty mind delegate, Nigerian Envoy to the UN in deep sleep’ Jaja in his response said that whenever he is thinking, he closes his eyes.
The Prime Minister has had enough of his continued embarrassment and ineptitude at International meetings according to Mbu, “So Sir Abubakar asked me, ‘Matthew, you go to Geneva, I need you there.’ He called the Nigerian Ambassador there and instructed that Jaja be replaced, I was made the Chief Nigerian Delegate in disarmament, and I was in that place from 1962 to 1965.
Ray Ofoegbu wondered and rightly so the choice of Jaja Nwachukwu as Nigerian Foreign Minister when he wrote:
“This is why it remains puzzling that Jaja Nwachukwu and his flamboyance, and later K.O. Mbadiwe and his irrepressible expansionism and exhibitionism, were associated with the low keyed and low profile foreign policies of Balewa. The correct candidates would have definitely been the M.T. Mbus, Dan Ibekwes, and Nuhu Bamalis of later years.” 8
The Prime Minister had on several occasions told young MT Mbu that as far as he was concerned, he was his Foreign Minister and that Jaja was only a political appointee imposed on him by Mbu’s party the NCNC. This stand was amply supported as Matthew Mbu was sent on more than two occasions to replace his politically appointed Foreign Minister and saved Nigeria much International embarrassment.
On his achievement in that conference, he said that they obtain a neutral test ban treaty. “Strange enough 30 years later in 1993, the banning of the use of Chemical weapon in United Nations Convention in Paris, I signed with Simeon Perez, the Isreali Prime minister at the time.
Ofoegbu has this to say on his role as Nigerian Chief Representative in the UN disarmament conference,
“ At the disarmament conference of the UNO Nigeria, in spite of its inexperience in world Affairs, learnt fast, and helped create the atmosphere which kept the superpowers from breaking up the conference. Furthermore. Nigeria along with other third world countries at the conference stressed time without number, the need to save mankind from the dangers of nuclear war, and the importance not only of banning nuclear tests in the Sahara but also of declaring Africa a nuclear- free zone”
Dr. Matthew Mbu’s joker was to finally decide the success of the conference when in an interview to the International Press he made a passionate appeal to Presidents Kennedy of America and Kruschevs of the Soviet Union to give the world ‘total disarmament’.
“I made a statement during the disarmament conference that Reuters News Agency and others reported for over three days…. I was asked what do I think of the fate of the disarmament now that we have succeeded to obtain a partial Nuclear Ban. I said this is a great achievement but we can do more, the two ‘Ks’, Kruschevs in Soviets Union and Kennedy in the United States should do their good work better and their better best that they should give us total disarmament.”
French Explosion of Atomic Bomb in the Sahara Desert
His action and comments in the disarmament conference was informed according to him by an incident that occurred soon after independence. “ The French government had exploded the Atomic Bomb in the Sahara and Nigeria government had gone ahead to cut-off diplomatic relations with her by sending away her envoy.
He ran back from Geneva on hearing Nigeria action against France and met with Sir Abubakar the Prime Minister. “I said, Sir what have you done? I said you have broken relationships with France and he replied is anything wrong with that? And I said yes indeed, France is one of the five members of the United Nations Security Council, one of the most powerful and we have just been admitted into the Committee of Nations, we can’t afford to flex our muscles against a member of the Security Council for now! We will be squeezed!”
To prove the relevance of France to a young independent nation as Nigeria, he pointed out their volume of trade with Nigeria at the time and prodded, “We are France’s best customers in Africa and can’t afford the economic implications of sending them parking unceremoniously.”
The Prime minister who had built his trust on matters of foreign relations on the professional advice of Ambassador Mbu became willing to rescind his decision but once again was stuck on how to go about it.
He asked the Honourable Ambassador on what step to take and Mbu replied, “Sir, it’s simple, France has two friends in West Africa, Houphoet Boigny of Senegal and his counter-part in Ivory Coast. Both Presidents are France’s best boys in the Francophone West Africa, reach out to them quickly and ensure that France Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Ramon is brought back. We have to do this discreetly through quite diplomacy. He thereafter thanked me. Later nobody knew Ramon had returned to Nigeria”
A similar “quite diplomacy”9 happened with the Portuguese Ambassador sent to Nigeria immediately after Independence and Ambassador Mbu in his official capacity as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Relations came to the rescue.
Portuguese Envoy to Nigeria at Independence
“Soon after independence, we have a problem on our hands, what could we do with the Envoy that Portugal sent to Nigeria as the Ambassador at independence?”
Don’t forget, Portuguese colonial policy was not only obnoxious but was totally unacceptable to African counties and Nigeria in particular and of course, there was uproar in the press that we should send him back packing. What is he doing in Nigeria? There was out cry in the press. It was I who went to Sir Abubakar and said to him, Sir don’t act precipitously he said ‘what do I do Matthew? They want me to send him back, he must go!’
“No Sir, I said, do one thing, send for him, talk to him, tell him to withdraw first and allow a more congenial atmosphere prevail and ask him to come back, but to send him away as a persona non grata as if he had done anything to incur your displeasure as an envoy. It is the policy of his government so he cannot be a persona non grata. Why do you say this he responded and I said, another factor Sir, that we may not know, I have looked at his statistic you know our groundnut pyramid in the North? He is our best customer.”
The Prime Minister’s Unofficial Foreign Minister
Between 1960-1966, Dr Matthew Mbu served in several capacities as Nigeria Chief Representative or Chief Delegate in very important International Conferences deserving of only the Foreign Minister. Why was this so when Nigeria at the time had a substantive Foreign Minister? He provided a reason:
“The Prime Minister, the Right Honourable, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa regarded me, not what I claimed that as far as he is concerned I am his Foreign Minister”
The preference of a seasoned Diplomat to a politically appointed Foreign Minister can be said to be one of the reasons why any Head of Government most times surrounds himself with a retinue of advisers as was the case with Mbu when he was appointed as the Special Assistant to the prime minister on Foreign Affairs between 1963 to 1966.
The Times of May 27, 1963 wrote; “Sir Abubakar Tafawa’s positive contribution redeemed the reputation of Nigeria which at the foreign ministers stage of the talks risked damage because of Mr. Jaja Nwachukwu unprofessional conduct.”10
Dr. Mbu recalled one particular incident when he was requested to take the place of Jaja in Kenya, former Tanganyika during a coup in that country. Although he argued that he cannot be the Chief Delegate when his Foreign Minister was also in attendance, he was nonetheless forced to assert his mandate when Jaja throw decorum to the wind and started banging his first on the conference table demanding that the delegate repeats the morning session that was missed by Nigerian Delegation due to his fault. Other delegates, who became irritated by his audacity to intimidate them to submission, called off his bluff and Nigeria once again was sitting on a very precarious diplomatic precipice if something urgent was not done.
At this juncture, Mbu asserts his authority as the Leader of the Nigerian Delegate, and asked the House to spare Nigerian a five minutes recess to enable her put her house in order.
On return, Mbu took the floor and profusely apologized on behalf of his minister thereafter he brought his professionalism in diplomatic conduct by making a request to the distinguished delegate to allow Nigeria chair the afternoon session having missed out in the morning session. His speech was received with a loud ovation and once again, Nigeria was saved another embarrassing moment.
The Nigerian Coat of Arms
Perhaps what remains his best contribution to date is the presence of the Eagle in the Nigerian Coat of Arms.
“We got stuck over the Coat Arm. The Nigerian Coat of Arm, what we have at the top of where the Eagle now perch was a crowned bird. I said that if we aspire to play a role in Africa as a leader and an effective member of the committee of nations and a very important player on the continent and in the sub-region, the design of crowned bird present for consideration in the National. Assembly does not do us justice. I will suggest we have the Eagle on top of the coat of arms.”11
The Eagle he stressed has meaning in African tradition, it is the king of the birds and our warriors and wrestlers who fought wars wear Eagle feathers on their caps to show their power. “That is my contribution to Nigeria and I am proud of it.”
He recalled on one occasion when the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha said to him,“… Don’t forget when you are writing your autobiography to let Nigerians and the world know that you gave us the Eagle on top of the coat of arms which we proudly wear on our uniforms as soldiers.”12
Today we have Eagle Square, Eagle bank super Eagles, Flying Eagle Golden Eaglet, Falcons and falconets, traceable to Dr. Mbu’s early contributions.
Nigeria’s First High Commissioner to Great Britain
The Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sir, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa must have held him in high esteem to agree to embargo the appointment of Young Ambassador Mathew Mbu for all of six months to give him time to think. He has this to say on his experience in London.
‘I had a blaze of publicity, a lot of it so much so that all my appointments were published, you won’t believe it, in the Royal column, of the times of London, where Her majesty Engagement were printed, Nigerian High commissioner of London. Every of my appointments were polished and anything to do with Africa, they will call me. I was on my appearance that I dress well. The Duke of Edinburgh used to tease me “who are your tailors?” It made the old Ambassador very jealous; they said why are they always talking about you.
I gave Nigeria a lot of publicity which they cannot get today with millions and millions of pounds all free publicity”.
When Nigeria at the time could boast of acclaimed lawyers such as the legendary Chief Osadebe G.C, Chief Davies H.O and Chief Arthur-Press, Mr. Mbu who had no credential was chosen for the most important diplomatic mission.
The opposition party, the Action Group led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo was not happy and accused the Balewa Administration of sending a Student to London as Envoy.
“They descended heavily on me because the Action Group said this boy going is a student, he hasn’t finished his Law, Nigeria is sending a student to go and read.”
The news got to the British Press and according to him a group of Journalist came to his office and asked him; “Your Excellency, is it true that you are reading Law?” and he replied with the following:
“That is a fact, would you have any objection if I said I read also History and I read Literature too and other books; is it wrong? They said no, and then I said if there is nothing wrong in my reading History or Geography for that matter, what is wrong if Matthew is to read Law? They said nothing and I said they are right. I am reading Law because I love it and I want to have knowledge of Law to guide me in my public performance to improve the quality of my contribution. Don’t you think so? That’s why I am reading Law.”
This reply was so important that instead of pulling down his person, his reputation soared and Nigeria was the better for it. He gave to Nigeria what he termed “quality service” while in the UK and in addition “I acquired the Nigerian house, I bought it free-hold for thirty five thousand pounds. But my friend, one of my colleagues in the Foreign Ministry who did refurbishing spent 12million pounds. His other contribution were the houses in Bayles-Water area named after him; Mathew Mbu’s house. Those houses he said were meant for Nigerian students when they complained of accommodation.
As Chief Delegate to the United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Privileges and Intercourse in Vienna, Austria and as leader of Nigerian delegation to the International Civil Aviation Organization Conference (ICAOC), Tokyo represents two other contributions he has made to Nigeria during his diplomatic career. This could explain the reason he was named the substantive Minister of Transport and Aviation on the eve of the coup of 15 January 1966.
For a man who had served 5years as Vice-President and President of the Judicial Committee of the Inter –Parliamentary Union (IPU), his wealth of the subject of International Law be utilized for the benefit of the Nigerian nation. It is therefore one of those credentials that today qualifies him to become the President of the Nigerian Society of International law.
Haven attained such high position in International diplomacy and law why would Nigeria lose Bakassi to Cameroon in the International Court of Justice. He blamed it on the leadership who many years after the civil war still see some section of the country as not belonging to the center and may not act in their interest.
This cannot be far from the truth as posited by Alloysius Atuegbu (MON), a lawyer and footballer when he cried out regretting his plight as coming from the Eastern part of the country recently.
“Oh yes I am suffering. I come from Anambra State but I am suffering because my rights are not given to me as a Member of the Order of the Niger, MON. I say it loud and clear, I am deprived of my rights because I come from the Eastern part of the country”.13
As Biafran Foreign Minister during the civil war while his counterpart also from Ogoja Mr. Okoi Arikpo was Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Mbu must have succeeded in portraying himself as the enemy of the state.14
His influence on the Chief antagonist was so strong that when this writer was growing up in Ogoja there used to be a song that goes thus:
“Mbu tell Ojukwu say
War no good o.
Ogoja is our home town.”15
Students are still playing this song during match-past.
Roles in Biafra and the Nigerian Civil War
Why did Ambassador Mbu chose to take side with Biafra against Nigeria and his reply was, “Femi Majekodunmi prevailed on me.“ He recounted how he met a group of Officers discussing the January 15, 1966 coup in Kaduna early January at the Nigerian Air Force Officer’s Mess on their desire to overthrow the government of the day through coup and proceeded to discuss the matter with the Prime Minister and his close confidant, Mr. Okpara who didn’t believe him. It was possible to discuss coup in the early sixties given the fact that Nigeria have never had one before.
The Prime Minister disbelieved him because of his faith in the Nigerian Police to defend the government of the day and this goes to show the type of confidence enjoyed by the Police during the early years of our independence.
Mbu said that the reason for the coup according to the coup plotters was the fact that the public office holders were corrupt and had enriched themselves with public funds to avert this coming take over of government he advised the Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubakar to “sack all of us since their excuse was that we are corrupt.” How naïve yet with the possibility to avert Nigeria’s first coup, which later spiraled into the wide gulf that ultimately, led to the civil war.
He left as Nigerian Chief Delegate to the burial of late Prime Minister of India, Mr. Chastrai on the eve of the coup.
Ambassador Mbu was received on arrival by Nigeria’s High Commissioner, Chief Adetokunbo Haastrup on the 15 January, 1966 who reported to him that while he was on his way here, a coup had taken place at home and that the Prime Minister was one of the casualties. “I told him” he mused.
“ When I came back from India, Ironsi, all of them wanted me to join the cabinet. That they went through my records and found out that I had not enriched myself and that they saw nothing other than my salary. My friend Odumegwu Ojukwu asked me how I managed it, not to have ‘stolen even a penny?’ ” When prodded further to join the new government, he told them that he already had an offer with the United Nations but suggested to them the system of diarchy to resolve the mistrust the coup must have caused.
On arrival in London to report for his office with the UN, he heard that Ironsi was also murdered in a counter-coup and it became certain that there was going to be an imminent purge.
“Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu and I were friends right from England when he was in Epson College.”
It was the efforts of Majekodunmi and Ojukwu who convinced him that:
“ Whatever they are offering you in the UN, Nigerians needs you most, the East in particular need you.”16
True to the above statement he returned to Nigeria and was made the chairman of the Eastern civil service commission where he helped provide a lot of life–line to an otherwise despondent citizen such as the renowned Novelist Professor Chinua Achebe. His response to this clarion call explains why he was caught in the East during the civil war and according to him, “If some of the advice I rendered had been adhered to at the time, I can assure you that today there would have been, that part of Nigeria that could still be called by whatever name it chooses to be called but with a greater degree of autonomy which they are fighting for today.
The OAU and UN wanted that part of the country to get her autonomy, her protection without necessarily breaking.”
He said he specifically told Ojukwu not to rely on Awolowo to declare the State of Oduduwa because he has backed out and has accepted to be number two, “so don’t break, don’t declare Biafra.”
His inability and difficulty to defend “my country that is killing and maiming their fellow country men.” Explains why he campaigned against Nigeria during the civil war years as Biafra Foreign Secretary. In that capacity, he got scholarships for all under – graduates and post – graduates students to German Universities.
Lord Carrighton, the British Foreign Secretary told me his home government was ready to support their cause at that time.
Dr. M.T. Mbu was a Diplomat through and through even during the war years. He gave audience to Chief Emeka Anyaouku when he came to mediate in Nigeria as “Assistant Director of International Affairs in the newly created Commonwealth Secretariat by the first Commonwealth Secretary-General, Arnold Smith.”17 in 1966. Chief Emeka told his story of his encounter with Dr. M.T. Mbu as Biafran Foreign Secretary.
“One of the first person I saw was MT Mbu, the Biafran Foreign Minister who years later served as Nigerian Foreign Minister under the Interim National Government headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan. …Within two hours of my arrival, I had to dive under a table in MT Mbu’s office because of the bombing raid by Federal Air Force” 18
Writing on the topic, ‘Nigeria-Commonwealth Relations, Problems and controversy Mr. Adebowale Suenu wrote on the strong attachment of British to the Biafran cause that can only enjoy such privilege on the account of Dr. MT Mbu who was the then Foreign Secretary. It is therefore not surprising that Britain was speaking from two sides of the mouth concerning the civil war in Nigeria.
‘The conflicting statement made by British Officials forced Nigerian government which initially found it difficult to trust the reliability of the Commonwealth to assist her situation concluded that Britain’s hand in its incapacitation was more than clear. While Nigeria could be dissatisfied with the Commonwealth posture in the Nigerian Federal Government-Biafran crisis, this could not legitimately be visited on Britain due to the nature of commonwealth and the British interest in the Biafran region, which she also had to protect.’
To justify this ‘double-speak’ policy during the civil war imbroglio, Mr. Adebowale Suenu gave the reason for Britain’s involvement, ‘…in 1967, the Commonwealth Secretary in the British government claimed that there was a degree of association and relationships between Britain’s representatives in Enugu and the Biafran leadership. This relationship according to him was in the interest of the British nationals there.”
This is a statement of fact because the Nigerian that was “Assistant Director of International Affairs”, comes from that part of Nigeria of the present day Anambra State, Chief Emeka Anyaoku as an indegine from the Ibo extract deserved British protection and rightly so, indeed.
In spite of the war, Ambassador Mbu till date believes as he did during and after the civil war that; “Deep at heart I remain a Federalist.”
4.2 PHILOSOPHY
Ambassador Mathew Mbu is variously described by friends and colleagues as, “very humble man”, “very hardworking”, “an accomplished man”, an enigma”, with “A man with a phenomenal memory”. He is said to “represents every thing good.” he is “a source of inspiration”, “a man with “a very solid character”, “very amiable”, “so charming, so sweet to everybody”. 19
His wife captures the philosophy behind the man Dr. M T Mbu when she said this of her husband. “He is very intelligent generous, kind, courageous and courteous. He is also an easy – going man, and accessible to communicate with. He is a strict father…”
Senator David Dafinone his friend since 1955 sees him as a “… true democrat who believes in the freedom of choice; and every body should have and exercise that freedom if we are to make headway. He believes in the rule of law, in transparence, in probity, in accountability, in equity and justice”.
He buttresses his position on Mbu by the fact that, in all his years of service to Nigeria, “Matthew has never been the subject of any probe”. His concern has always been the interest of his people and his country. This he believes is the mark of a true leader and if the younger generation must learn from the past and for the present to be enriched for a better future,
“Dr Matthew Mbu provides an example of selfless service for the growth and development of the nation.”
To Dr Mbu his philosophy is very simple,
“If I have the opportunity I will create a condition where none is too rich and none too poor.”
He greatly admired Abraham Lincoln of America and advice that “let the young people of Nigeria and the world know that Lincoln rose to the pinnacle in spite of bitter hardship … in the valley and crevices of the climb from bottom to the top.”
He sees Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the First Indigenous President and Governor-General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as an uncompromising defender of the rights and dignity of the black race. Zik’s five pronged philosophy and programme of Spiritual Balance, Social Regeneration Economic Determinism, Mental Emancipation and Political Risorgimento or simply Resurgence he said is most appropriate if Africans are to be liberated in body and soul.20
The work of the great Chinese philosopher Confuscius interests him. He is of the opinion that Confuscius statement that “If there is righteousness in the heart of the individual, there will be nobility of character. If there is nobility of character, there will be happiness in the home. If there is happiness in the home, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.” 21 These words of wisdom if properly employed in the conduct of our personal and national lives he said will provide us with a positive focus for development.
The Place of God and Religion
Ambassador Matthew Tawo Mbu believes that God exists and everything in creation revolves around the appreciation of this indisputable fact.
“The privileges we enjoy, the favour we receive that differentiates our little efforts from others is the work of God.”
He is a Knight of St. John to back up his belief in the one Supreme God and thus a Christian.
Growing up in Okundi, his home place with no electricity and the mission school around the bend and The Reverend Principal, Father Meeham as his childhood idol, his comment that “I think religion is the key.”, did not come as a surprise.
To Ambassador Mbu “Religion is so very important even when you are not so religious.” There is that being he continued, “That is more superior to us and must be served. Essentially there is God, I believe he is Almighty”
All his achievement in life to this moment he ascribed to that unseen hands of God that helped him paved the way.
Professor I.E. Sagay a lecturer and an International Lawyer said this of him, “He can be referred to as a living example of what Shakespeare said about some being born great, others achieving greatness and some having greatness thrust upon them. I will regard him (Mbu) as one whom greatness was thrust upon him.”
His father, Chief Tawo Mbu had had a very profound influence on his life and with all his numerous achievements, he still longed to have half of what his father has to be a more fulfilled person.
“My father by our modern day standard was a very rich man; anything he touches become money. I share this attribute with him and thank God, I never thought of it as any negative influence.
It started with my father, if I have half of my father’s endowment, I would have been a better person. He thinks so far into the future. He has so much influence on me.”
His exploits at the disarmament conference in Geneva made him popular as the “Poet Diplomat” and as the poem sang during and after the civil war by the people of Ogoja where he comes from urging him to tell Ojukwu to end the war couple with his poetic appeal to Kennedy and Kruschev on total disarmament the words of Ambassador Matthew Tawo Mbu will forever be branded in our hearts whenever we sing this song:
“Good, Better, Best
I will never rest
Until my Good is Better
And my Better Best”. 22
We should always remember the “The Poet Diplomat” that left this shore at the tender age of twenty-six in an official capacity as Nigeria’s First High Commissioner to the Land of the Queen of England as a mere student and went ahead to shame critics that age is nothing but a number.
To drive home this point, Dr. MT Mbu up till date remains the youngest ever Federal Minister when at the tender age of 21 he was named the first Nigerian Minister of Labour, a ministry considered so important in the early history of the emergence of Nigeria as a nation that only the brightest of British citizens are so honoured.23
References and End-Notes
1. MT Mbu (75), Diplomat, Foreign Affairs Minister-ING. 12 September 2004. 10.00am.
2. Okotie-Eboh Nigerian Minister of Finance in the 1st Republic in a statement directing Mr. Mbu to visit the Prime Minister.
3. Patricia Dede Otuedon Hallmark of Labour vol.3, Lagos, Mahogany Press Limited, 1999. pg. 196-203.
4. Citation: Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic CFR, 2000.
5. Senator D.O. Dafinone, OFR. Who’s Who in Nigeria Ajao-Estate, Lagos Nigerian International Biographical Centres, Naycee Press & Publishers 1999. pg. 453-455.
6. “Otu Agriyan” According to Dr. Mbu, the title of “Otu Agriyan” is the higest title for a War-Lord. In any public cerewmony, such a titleholder deserved to be` served seven times before any other person. “Today it is more in speaking for the community in the promotion of welfare and good relationship. I think now it is more of a honourary title to keep up the tradition.”
7. Alexander Omini Esq. (32), Legal Practioner, Barrister at Lawr, 29 July 2004, 3.30pm.
8. Ray Ofoegbu. The Nigerian Foreign Policy, Enugu,
Star Printing and Publishing company Limited, 1978.
9. Ambrose Akor Mbu’s Dream, The Guardian Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria, October 19, 1997.
10. Encarta Premium Suite 2004 “The Times Magazine”, London, http://www.the-time.co.uk, 27 May 1963.
11. Federation of Nigeria: Debates of the Federal House of Representatives 1952-1954.
12. Comments from General Sani Abacha to Mbu as reported by him during the interview.
13. - Saturday Sun Newspaper (September 18,2004)
Vol. 2 No:88, page 16.( Ex-Green Eagles player reacting to his neglect by the Nigerian government.
14. Ralph Uwechue Reflection on the Nigerian Civil war Facing the future. Paris, Jeune Afrique, 1971.
15. A local song composed and sang by the Ogojas during the civil war years which is still been sang up till date as a remembrance of their faith on Mbu to call Ojukwu to order and end the war.
16. Reasons on why Mbu came back from UK attributed to Ojukwus appeal for him to return home and to the East.
17. Modupeola Faseke Ph.D and others. Nigeria and the Commonwealth- Reflections and Projections Lagos, JSEP, 2003.
18. Chief Emeka Anyaoku The Inside Story of a modern Commonwealth. London, Evans Publishers, 2004.
19. Interviews and comments collected by Mrs. Patricia Otuedon for the Hall-mark of Labour Projects comprising of the followings Senator David Dafinone, Mrs. Catherine Mbu, Professor I.E. Sagay, Professor Ben Nwabueze, Emeka Okoli, Senator Mark Mbu, Mrs. Onari Duke and Navy Commodore Ebitu O. Ukiwe (RTD).
20. Essay: Zik and the African Revolution (The life & times of Zik).
21. A quote from the Chinese Philosopher, Confuscius.
22. A popular motivational song for pupils of the South-East and South-South of Nigeria coined from Mbu’s comments in the disarmament conference.
23. N. Nik Onyechi Nigerians Book of First (a Handbook on Pioneer Nigerian Citizens, Institution and events) Owerri-Enugu, Nigeriana publications, 1989. pg. 102.
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 CONCLUSION
The relevance of Ambassador M.T. Mbu as one of the very few Nigerians who has the “ key to the United Nation”1. Got to its all time high following the Infamous handing over of government of the then military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) when he had to “step-aside.”2
It should be remembered that his having to step aside was occasioned by the Annulment of the June 12 Presidential Elections believed to have been won by the Social Democratic Party Candidate (SDP), Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola.
The decision of Babangida government to annul that election, affected negatively on Nigeria Foreign Relations and the best man to assuage the frayed tension was Ambassador Mathew Mbu a seasoned Diplomat, who was called in and saddled with the responsibility of cleaning up Nigeria’s image as the Foreign Affairs Minister in the Interim Cabinet of Chief Ernest Shonekan 1992-1993.
He was later appointed as the, Nigerian Ambassador to Germany 1998-1999 by the Government of General Abdulsallam Abubakar and has served Nigeria well to the best of his ability.
Ambassador Tawo Mathew Mbu strongly supports the idea that Nigeria can use her “…diplomatic leverage to claim back its predestined role as the leader of Africa.”3 By this, he meant that Nigeria should, “…actively cultivate the goodwill of the leaders of the international community…and firmly avoid being too closely identified with certain states with their peculiar problems as they have nothing to offer”.
This line of foreign policy stand suggested by him is very familiar given the fact that he served in the first Republic of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa between 1960-1966 that pursued vigorously a conservative foreign policy of non-alignment immediately after independence.4
Dr Mbu, was called to the English Bar the same night, by the same college with Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, the former British Prime Minister, and his hob-nobbing with other political leaders in the world, explains his influence up till date.
In the early history, preamble to the granting of independence to Nigeria, there exists what could be regarded as “easy diplomacy” and Nigeria was the beautiful bride that every nation courted, according to Ambassador Mbu, “…with our increased moral stature and greater economic power, we were properly poised to play a leadership role in Africa”.
He was to later play such very significant roles for Nigeria in many international fora in shaping the conduct of diplomacy with such ease devoid of the present complications of “us against the world” struggle by nations. He refers to the period as “…those golden days of our diplomacy”.
What went wrong and why has the image of the country plummeted from the height these super-diplomats have painstakingly built over the years?
We find in his own word answers to this bugging question when he said:
“The western capitalist state that respected or even almost feared us in the middle of the late seventies now dictated our economic policies and indeed seconded their officials to our ministry of finance to supervise our compliance with conditionality and Structural Adjustment Program. We lost our economic sovereignty completely and with it a great degree of our political sovereignty” This statement sounds familiar with Chief, Olusegun Obasanjo’s Inaugural speech on May 29, 1999 as Nigeria’s democratic President when he said:
“Nigeria once a well respected and key player on the international community became a pariah nation. We shall pursue a dynamic foreign policy to promote friendly relations with all nations, and will continue to play a constructive role in the United Nations Organisation (U.N.O), the Organisation of African Unity (O.A.U), and other international bodies. We shall continue to honour existing agreements between Nigeria and other countries. It is our firm resolve to restore Nigeria fully to the prestigious position of eminence in the comity of nations.” 5
With such posture by Mr. President, it is expected that this government take advantage of his experience but this seems not to be the case as he is left in the fringes while Nigeria looses a most important case at The Hague on Bakassi.
Nigeria, the Ambassador assured “…still commands some compassion and goodwill of major actors in the International community.”
Whether this goodwill is sufficient or not, given the present reality characterized by the almost irrelevant foreign policy status of non-alignment becomes a matter of conjecture.
Following the end of the cold war and the emergence of the dominance of capitalist economy championed by the west, a lot more will have to be done to situate Nigeria at a more advantaged position in the international circle.
He however proffered a solution that, “Once we established a democratic system of government through a credible process, not only will the States and institutions with capital grant us economic aid and loans on favourable terms. There will also be greater willingness on the part of our creditors to write off considerable portions of our international debts.” 6
The issue of debt forgiveness has today taken the center stage as thus this advice can go a long way to assist the government in her efforts in that direction.
One area according to Dr. Mbu where Nigeria has maintained a laudable consistency is in the area of Peace-keeping and Conflict Resolution in Africa. Nigeria has contributed Forces to virtually every UN, OAU and ECOWAS since 1960. He said we have restored peace and contributed to the stability of many African States such as Congo (UNUC), 1960-1964, Lebanon (UNIFIL), 1978-1982, Somalia (UNOSOM), 1993-1995, Namibia (UNTAG) 1989-1990, Angola (UNAVEM), 1989-1990, Rwanda (NMOG) & (UNAMIR, 1992-1994, Bosnia-Hezegovina (UNPROFOR), 1991-1995, Chad 1982-1983 and Liberia and Sierra Leone (ECOMOG) 1990 till date.
“The issue of conflicts is, in my view, the most pressing of all challenges facing Africa today. Conflicts have cast a dark shadow over the prospects for a united, secure and prosperous Africa which we seek to create.”
His view on the issue of conflict in Africa and a search for some sort of solution may have been the reason why he chose to write his Doctorate Thesis on the subject: The OAU and the settlement of African disputes- An appraisal of machinery, practice and effectiveness. His submission was that the OAU (now AU) mechanism for conflict resolution is sufficient if member states will be more co-operative in this endeavour.7
If Nigeria desires to continue her dominance in Africa and world foreign relations policies she must as a matter of necessity take seriously his recommendation.
“I recommend that we should reaffirm and redouble our activities in the area of peace-keeping and conflict prevention and resolution in Africa…I wish to emphasis the fact that Nigeria is a country well endowed by God in every respect. We have enormous material resources and large dynamic industrious and creative population.”
He however bemoans the fact that our sorry situation today is a direct consequence of the poor management of our resources, both human and material. He charged “We must set standard so that those coming behind will find something to emulate. If we do not respect standards and do not acquire what others can aspire to maintain, then woe betide us. The ‘fast’ lane leads to crashes to disaster.”
Chief, Dr. Ambassador Matthew Tawo Mbu has lived by all his words and deserve a place in our history books for posterity. He is one among the many of our unsung heroes who has been in the corridor of powers before our independence and remains relevant in our desire for a corrupt free Nigeria. He was the first Nigerian on record to “return change”8 to government coffers and is among the longest serving Nigerian still alive, his experiences and recommendation to a Nigeria of our dream can comfortably take us to the next level.
Ambassador Mbu is listed in Who’s Who in the Commonwealth; Who’s Who in the World; Who’s Who in Nigeria; Marquis Who’s Who in the World; NewsWatch Who’s Who in Nigeria; American Biography of Men of Distinction in the 20th Century; Cambridge Biographical Centre, England ‘Men of Achievements in the 21st Century and also is a member of many international bodies.
He is a Fellow of the London Institute of World Affairs, Fellow Royal Society of Arts; Fellow Royal Commonwealth Society; Fellow Royal Economic Society and Nigerian International Biographical Centres’ Who’s Who.9
A man with such credentials earned through the years deserved to be studied with a view to bring to light his humble achievements to serve as guides for younger generations to emulate.
Great men on whom the burdens of defining a niche are most often misunderstood by friends, family and the community for which they struggle day and night to explaining why they did what they have to do as at when they did it.
Raph Waldo Emerson was forced to ask, “Is it so bad, then to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.”10
For a man who have served in the corridor of powers since he was twenty to live a modest and almost austere life when everybody’s expectation is that he should have amass enough money to throw parties at the slimmest excuse is surely a misunderstood person in Nigeria.
The ultimate desire of every man or woman is to be happy and contented and Ambassador Mbu has every reason to be happy with his life and have no regret or apology for living it in full.
Reference and End-Notes
1. Professor Siyan Oyeweso’s a Lecturer and Head of Department of History and International Studies; comments on the relevance of Ambassador MT Mbu to Nigerian Foreign Relations.
2. President Ibrahim Babangida made popular the term “step aside” to explain his unceremonious exist from power in August 1993.
3. Ambrose Akor Mbu’s Dream, The Guardian Newspaper. Nigeria. October 19, 1997.
4. Victor Nwaozichi Chibundu Foreign Policy (with particular reference to Nigeria 1961-2002) Ibadan, Spectrum Book limited, 2003. pg 12.
5. Olusegun Obasanjo “Inaugural Address to the International Community”, Abuja, Federal Ministry of Information, 29 May 1999. pg 17.
6. MT Mbu (Essay) The re-appraisal of Nigerian Foreign Policy.
7. MT Mbu (Ph.D thesis),London, The O.A.U and the Settlement of African Disputes, 1995.
8. This term “return Change” is used to refer to honest person who treat government funds with all sense of accountability and return any excess fund in their position having completed their assignments.
9. Patricia Dede Otuedon Hallmark of Labour vol.3, Lagos, Mahogany Limited, 1999. pg. 181.
10. Ralph Waldo Emerson a highly quoted philosopher.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
(A) PRIMARY SOURCES
INTERVIEWS:
Ambassador M.T Mbu, (75), Diplomat, (Foreign Affairs Minister ING), !2 September 2004.
Professor Siyan Oyeweso, Senior Lecturer, Former Head of Department (History and International Studies) Lagos State University, 16 August 2004.
Mr. Adebowale Suenu Lecturer, Department of History and International Studies, Lagos State University, 20 August, 2004.
Alexander Omini Esq. (32), Legal Practioner, Barrister at Lawyer, 29 July 2004.
Matthew Otu (35), Soldier, Sergent, October 14, 2004.
Mrs. Patricia Otuedon: Interviews and comments collected for the Hallmark
of Labour Projects with Senator David Dafinone, Mrs. Catherine Mbu, Professor. I.E. Sagay, Professor Ben Nwabueze, Emeka Okoli, Senator Mark Mbu, Mrs. Onari Duke and Navy Commodore Ebitu O. Ukiwe (Rtd.).
Mr. Lazarus Ukpor Okache, (33) Transporter, Mechanic, October 24, 2004.
(B) OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS
M.T. Mbu, Curriculum Vitae updated 2004.
Citation, Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic CFR, 1996.
Federation of Nigeria: Debates of the Federal House of Representatives
1952-1954.
Raph Uwechue Ed. Who is Who in Africa. Nigeria, Africa Books Ltd. 1991.
Senator D.O. Dafinone, OFR. Who’s Who in Nigeria Nigerian International
Biographical Centres, Ajao-Estate, Lagos, Naycee Press & Publishers, 1999.
Olusegun Obasanjo “Inaugural Address to the International Community”
Abuja, Federal Ministry of Information, 29 May 1999.
( C) UNPUBLISHED ESSAYS, THESES, SPEECHES.
- MT Mbu The O.A.U and the Settlement of African Disputes (An
appraisal of machinery, practices and effectiveness)
-A thesis presented for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Faculty of Laws,
University of London 1995.
-The re-appraisal of Nigerian Foreign Policy
- Nigeria and the New Democratic Norm.
- Peace Keeping and Conflict Resolution
- Domestic Politics and the International Environment (the third republic of my Dream).
- Zik and the African Revolution (The life & times of Zik)
( D) NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES ARTICLES
Peter Osamgbi “The 3 Musketeers owes us Autobiographies” ThisdayNewspaper. Lagos, February 21, 2004
Saturday Sun Newspaper Lagos, Vol. 2 No:88, page 16. September 18,2004.
Ambrose Akor “Mbu’s Dream”, The Guardian Newspaper. Nigeria,
October 19, 1997.
Eddy Odivwry “Nothing Last Forever”, Thisday Newspaper, Nigeria,
February 21, 2004.
Encarta Premium Suite 2004 “The Times Magazine”, London,
http://www.the-time.co.uk, 27 May 1963.
Professor Adam Fergusson LL.D History, Britanica 2002 Deluxe Edition.
SECONDARY SOURCES:
A.B. Akinyemi and others Nigeria Since Independence The First Twenty-Five
Years Vol. X: International Relations Nigeria,Heinemann Educational Books
(Nigeria) Ltd. 1989.
E.H Carr What is History, London, Penguin Book,. 1961.
Siyan Oyeweso Journey from Epe-Biography of S.L. Edu, Lagos, West
Africa Book Publishers Ltd, 1996.
N. Nik Onyechi Nigerians Book of First (a Handbook on Pioneer Nigerian
Citizens, Institution and events) Owerri-Enugu, Nigeriana publications, 1989.
Trevor Clark A Right Honorable Gentleman (The Life And Times Of Alhaji,
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa) Zaria, Hudahuda publishing company Ltd, 1991.
N.U. Akpan The struggle for secession 1966-1970 London, Frank Cass & co. Ltd, 1972
Victor Nwaozichi Chibundu Foreign Policy (with particular reference to
Nigeria 1961-2002) Spectrum Book limited, 2003.
Ralph Uwechue Reflection on the Nigerian Civil war Facing the future. Paris,
Jeune Afrique,1971.
James O.Ojiako Nigeria: yesterday today and..? Onitsha, Africana Educational
Press (Nig Ltd). 1981.
Patricia Dede Otuedon Hallmark of Labour vol.3, Lagos, Mahogany Limited,
1999.
Chief Emeka Anyaoku The Inside Story of a modern Commonwealth. London,
Evans Publishers, 2004.
Tekena N. Tamuno & Ayodele Aderinwale Portrait of A Nigerian Leader,
Abeokuta, ALF Publications,. 1991.
Chief Simeon O. Debo Our Unforgettable Years, Lagos, Macmillan-Nigeria,
1984.
Modupeola Faseke Ph.D and others. Nigeria and the Commonwealth
Reflections and Projections Lagos, JSEP, 2003.
Geddes & Grosset Dictionary of Quotations Ibadan, Child’s Play Books Ltd,
1994.
Donald J.D. Mulkerne and Donald J.D. Mulkerne, Jr. The Term Paper-Step
By -Step, Garden City, New York. Anchor Books, Anchor Press/Doubleday,
(1983).
Douglas Hunt The Riverside Guide to Writing Boston, Houghton Mifflin
Company,1991.
L.O. Oladepo Oyelakin, The Nigerian Foreign Service, Lagos, ICIC Press, 1989.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background of the study
“Anytime Nigerians have problems they run to Matthew Mbu
because he has the key to the United Nations”.1
–Professor Siyan Oyeweso
One of the surprises in the conduct of this research was the lack of materials to work on a personality believed as stated above by Professor Siyan Oyeweso, Head of Department (2002-2004) , History and International Studies, Lagos State University to be one of those few Nigerian still alive “who has the keys to the United Nations.”
Chief Matthew Tawo Mbu ranked amongst the first in Nigerian history of Diplomats. As the pioneer Diplomat and First High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1955-1959, First Nigerian Chief Representative to Washington DC, United State of America (U.S.A) and First Nigerian Chief Representative to the United Nations within the same period, it was a surprise that little or nothing has been written on him.
The marriage of convenience between the two political parties the National Council of Nigerian Congress and the Northern Peoples Congress in the 1959 election to form Coalition Government is said to be premised on six conditions:
“That Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe should become the governor General from Independence Day.
That the cutting-out of Mid-West State from the Western Region should be taken up, that the Federal Capital Territory be extended.
That no appointment be made without consultation.
That Mr. Matthew Mbu (the former Minister from the East, who had been removed from Washington Embassy after allegation of financial and other irresponsibility should be re-instated), and that a new Speaker be elected as soon as the new House resume sitting.”2
Whatever may be the reason for Mr. Matthew Mbu’s removal from the core Washington Embassy; one clear fact demonstrated by his party with the condition that he be named a Minister in the New Cabinet attest to the fact that there was a foul play, which the National Council of Nigerian Congress (NCNC) seeks to redress on his behalf. A condition that was met.
The exploits of young Mr. Matthew Mbu were mentioned when Muhammad Ribadu the then Minister of Defence referred to him as “An emergent youthful NCNC figure” it was Mbu who, when the elected officials before independence where at a loss on what to call the leader of a yet to be properly constituted government. Mr. M.T. Mbu suggested that he be called the “Leader of Government Business” or “Captain of the Ministerial Team”. This suggestion became officially accepted as the right title to address the Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in waiting.
For this singular show of ingenuity and intellect, Mr. Matthew Mbu as one of the youngest politicians at the time became endeared to the Prime Minister without realizing it and in the process opened a new chapter in his life as a Diplomat.
1.2 Objective of the study
This research project is undertaken to present a historical analysis of the Diplomatic Career of Ambassador Matthew Tawo Mbu and his contributions to the growth and conduct of Nigerian International Relations. It also attempts a critical examination of the period and socio-economic background and its effect on his overall objective in the attainment of his career goal.
The project shall also discuss the participation of Ambassador Mbu and his roles in the formulation and adoption of Policies and programmes in his official capacity as a Nigerian Diplomat and a Statesman at home and at international events.
1.3 Significance of study
This study is important for several reasons.
The study will constitute an essential contribution to the much-needed literature required by students of history and international diplomacy.
The study will help fill the gaps in the existing body of literature on the subject of the diplomatic career of Ambassador Mbu.
The study is also expected to augment several essays written about his contributions to Nigerian international diplomacy. Mention will be made of his various roles as Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, as Nigeria’s first High Commissioner to Britain, First Nigerian Chief Representative in United Nations, Chief Negotiator on United Nations Organisation on Disarmament Conference, Geneva and others.
With Nigeria partial Independence as at 1955, it could have been considered difficult for a young Nigerian Ambassador to give good account of his stewardship, considering the fact that he was not a career diplomat at the time and had never received such training prior to his appointment.
To combine studies with the responsibility of serving as a Nigerian High Commissioner to Britain was in every respect a daunting task. This assumption is cogent giving the present situation of appointment of very experienced officials of advanced age to what then is available to the brightest and the most promising.
The performance of Ambassador Mbu at the young age of 26 as Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom can be said to be an experiment that paid off at the long run.
This study intends to draw an historical analysis of particularly his active diplomatic years between 1955-1999 to present a tool for posterity of his perceptions on international issues.
The study of the social background of Dr. Mbu will to an extent throw light on what shapes his character and how it influences his community, social institution, organization and society.
His achievement in the diplomatic calling will also be viewed from the prevalent national environment and whether it supports or it was solely a matter of self-discipline, focus and drive to succeed.
The making and formulation of Nigeria’s foreign policies over the years have been greatly influenced in no small way with his contributions and pronouncement and deserving academic investigations.
As the Chief Delegate most times to some of this events of international importance, his stand on behalf of Nigeria, will to a large extent reveal his philosophy and inner conviction of why he voted for or against issues in international conferences.
What influenced his positions on certain matters will also be viewed with the aim of determining the place of family, marriage, early life and continuous education in the conduct of his career in the international circuit. The question of whether or not his actions or inaction in certain matters may have greatly influenced Nigeria’s position in the comity of nations is however not in doubt.
1.4 Scope and limitation of study
This study shall be limited to the diplomatic career of Ambassador Matthew Tawo Mbu particularly his most active diplomatic years from 1955 to 1999 which can be regarded as his international years.
References and Endnotes
1. Professor Siyan Oyeweso, Senior Lecturer and Former Head of Department (History and International Studies) Lagos State University, 16 August 2004. 11.30am.
2. Trevor Clark A Right Honorable Gentleman (The Life And Times Of Alhaji, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa) Zaria, Hudahuda publishing company Ltd, 1991. pg 251-252
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature Review
Introduction
The term History according to Professor Adam Ferguson, can generally be used to signify an account of some remarkable facts which he said must, “have happened in the past and arranged in the true order in which they actually took place together with the causes to which they were owing and the different effects they have produced, as far as can be discovered.”1
To satisfy the recording of what he regarded as facts, which have happened, he said man is the only one single factor that can record these facts.
Mark Twain puts it this way in his autobiography:
“Gods greatest creation? Man. Who found it? Man.” 2
The power of the individual as the strongest single factor in the shaping of history is therefore the study of man himself as the maker of history, and this can be found only in very rich biographies of persons who have helped shaped it through their lives.
2.1 Significance of Biographical Writings
History comes from the Greek verbs “I know”. Historians in ancient time who were looked upon as great men were called “poly historie”, that is person of various and general knowledge.
From the beginning of the subject of history, the individual is always looked upon as providing the materials for the writing and recording of history.
Biographies from all intents and purposes are the bedrock on which the subject of history revolves. This point is worth repeating. Some scholars have come up with derogatory terms to qualify biographies one of which is that of Acton in his book Home And Foreign Reviews, when he wrote, “Nothing causes more error and unfairness in man’s view of history than the interest which is inspired by individual characters.” his conclusion was that “good biographies makes bad history”3
E.H. Carr disagrees when he wrote, “…some biographies are serious contributions to history.” He cited such works as, Isaac Deutscher’s biographies of Stalin and Trotsky to buttress his point. The submission of Marx in Gesamtausgabe sums up the relevance of man as an integral part of any serious writings of history when he said, “History does nothing it possesses no immense wealth, and fights no battles. It is rather man, real living man who does everything, who possesses and fights.”
Carlyle was more direct when he asserts that, “History is the biography of great men.” This goes to confirm the earlier claim that the society and the individual are inseparable; it is in fact agreed that, “Society and the individual are necessary and complimentary to each other, not opposites.”
As soon as a man is born, the world gets to work on him, transforming him from the helpless merely biological entity into a social unit. This man is the embodiment of history without which the subject of history cannot exist. A.P. Pareira believes that the “…reason why America seems to be growing faster than other countries is because they know how to feed their citizens with biographies” this further goes to demonstrate the fact that biographical writings like other works of science can impact seriously on development of a state.
The exploits of great men such as Abraham Lincoln and other men in history can only come alive through the works of good biographers. Great biographical works in Nigeria such as that of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa: The Right Honorable Gentleman, that of S.L. Edu, The Journey From Epe, and that of Chief Adede, The Portrait Of A Leader are few examples.
The essence of these biographies is to present a semblance of a blueprint for younger individuals to either learn from their search for independent assessment of the society they live in or appreciate how the lives of these heroes have helped shaped their history.
The writings of biographies in Nigeria as in elsewhere most often tell stories of great men of significant achievements. It portrays the good ideal and down plays the ugly side of such personalities written about. This is deliberate as a highlight on the good fortune is supposed to rub off positively on the younger generations whose duties it was to take the society to the next level. However, this approach does not foreclose the existence of bad biographies as they carries within their pages very useful lessons. It may be for this reason that one scholar was quick to conclude on this seemingly one-sided nature of some biographies when he wrote that this type of academic pursuit is nothing but perverse history, this not withstanding biographies have generally served good purposes.
Writing on the importance of biographical work especially his autobiography Dr. Adebo said that as soon as he made his intention to leave the Foreign Service, he was inundated with several request to write. “…they began to urge that I should lose no time, upon my retirement from the united Nations, to set down in writing some of the thoughts that I had shared with them over a period of some ten years concerning the problems that face humanity”.4
He sees his autobiography as a contribution to the enhancement of the field of diplomacy.
The view of Peter Osamgbi, writing in Thisday Newspaper on the topic “The 3 Musketeers Owe Us Autobiographies” summarises our discussion on the essence of biographical writings. He wrote: “Biography is a genre of history that gives us valuable insights into the activities of a particular individual within a period of time and to a large extent within the society in which the person lives in.”5
If biographies represents what the author wrote above and if it is true that “…before men fall prey to their own shortcomings, history would have sounded repeatedly the many sides of the lesson they should have learnt from similar cases in the past.”6 Then the essence of biographical writings as a genre of historical writings is the mother of all history.
References and End-Notes
1. Professor Adam Fergusson LL.D History, Britanica 2002 Deluxe Edition.
2. Geddes & Grosset Dictionary of Quotations Ibadan, Child’s Play Books Ltd, (1994). Pg. 61.
3. Eddy Odivwry Nothing Last Forever, Lagos, Nigeria, Thisday Newspaper,. February 21, 2004. pg. 49. vol. 10. No. 3226.
4. E.H Carr What is History, London, Penguin Book,. 1961. pg 257.
5. Chief Simeon O. Debo Our Unforgettable Years, Nigeria, Lagos, Macmillan, 1984. pg 14.
6. Peter Osamgbi “The 3 Musketeers owes us Autobiographies” Lagos, Nigeria, Thisday Newspaper. February 21, 2004 pg 36, vol. 10. No. 3226.
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Early Life
Chief Matthew Tawo Mbu was born in Okundi, present Boki Local Government Area in the old Ogoja Province of Cross River State on November 20, 1929.
His father, Chief Tawo Mbu was a Produce Merchant trader and farmer. As far as Mbu can remember, he never in his childhood suffered from any lack. His father he said had enough for his family of three wives and nine children at the time.
His father was a member of the Osokom royal family and a community spokesman like his father before him. He was conscripted twice into the Colonial Police as Inspector and twice he deserted because he never wanted to be a police officer but to be like his own father a spokesperson and a merchant.
In spite of growing up in a polygamous home, Dr. Mbu said his home was a happy one as there was no major crisis in the family throughout his growing up years. Everybody in the family he said looked after the other member of the family. He recalled how fun it all was sharing with his other siblings in almost every sphere of life as they indulged in all sorts of childhood antics.
If polygamy is that fun as he described it, why did he chose to marry one and he was quick to add that “it is not always fun, it also had its set-back growing up in a large family. There were petty jealousies especially among our mothers, who sometimes openly show dislike for other brothers and sisters. It must have been hard on them.”1 He believed.
His grandfather was a popular man in the village and known to be very generous too. As the best athlete, he was known far and wide and a champion of the community as a whole.
Matthew Mbu believes that sports generally runs in the family and recounted his youthful days in the mission school when he used to out-run his entire peer in the 50 yards.
“My youngest son, is presently carrying on the tradition” he said displaying a picture of his child taken before a major race in his college in England.
In school, he was so brilliant that “…his principal and teacher, Revd. Fr. Patrick Meeham would at times leave the class for him to teach. He would later make time specially to teach Matthew secondary school subjects such as prose and poetry, geometry, trigometry and elementary maths.”2
Okundi his home place was a center of missionary activities as the only mission school at the time was situated there. Going to the mission every Sunday to attend the Catholic Church and see the “Okaghanra”, 3 white man “speak through his nose” was something of a delight to look forward to every Sunday.
He soon was enrolled into the Catholic Mission School where his desire to speak like the white-man assumed a more realistic proportion. All he wanted in that childlike fantasy was to become like the Reverend Father.
He became so obsessed with the idea of becoming a priest that his father who had a different plan for his favorite son had to seek out the Irish Reverend advise on what to do. The Reverend father requested the young man be brought to him for counseling.
As a community leader, Chief Tawo Mbu had wanted his son to become a lawyer and desire that he attends Saint Patrick’s College, in Calabar after which he would proceed to England to study Law and become like his ideal lawyer, Lawyer Thomas a Lagos based legal Practitioner whom he admired so much. Most importantly he believed strongly that his son will tow the family tradition of been a community spokesperson. To him, this ranked higher to any services a person can render to his people at the time. However, he secretly nursed the ambition of producing the first lawyer in the small town of Okundi.
Recalling this particular incidence that was to change his life forever, Mbu said that all he wanted at the time was to be like the his mentor, an Irish Priest Reverend Father Patrick Meeham who had five Degrees so that he can be addressed as “Reverend father, Doctor, Matthew ‘Itawo’4 Mbu, LL.B., LL.M., D.Phil., D.Litt, M.B.A.
The Irish Priest Reverend Father Patrick Meeham as the reverend father in charge of the Catholic mission in Okundi, had had to attend to all sorts of complaints and counseling as part of his daily routine in his Parish.
On this particular occasion when Chief Mbu one of his flock and his son, Young Mathew, a boy he christened during his baptism came calling, he had to again perform his duty of “the child must obey his parents” sermon.
When they both arrived, he wasted no time in delivering a sermon that uptill date Ambassador Mbu believed was the voice of God speaking through the Reverend father. He was so frightened by the Reverend father’s countenance when he looked into his eyes and said the following words to him:
“You are not born for the Priesthood! You not are born for the Priesthood! You are born to help your people; You are not born for the Priesthood. You are born to help your people
“Matthew! Listen to your father, you must listen to your father!”
These words of prophecy did in fact sealed his dreams of having five degrees and becoming a priest then. Instead he went ahead to follow the words of the lrish priest and that of the father when at the young age of 22 in 1952 he began his journey of “speaking for his people” when he was nominated to represent the Eastern House of Assembly and House of Representatives as a member of Ogoja House of Representatives.5
On his home town Okundi his birth place he said “Okundi is my humble village and the place that I have chose, with all seriousness that at the end of my time, I should be laid to rest there so to me, it is everything.”
He stressed that his almost fanatical attachment to his home place was because, “…first and foremost, I have always been a village-boy, very attached to the community, brought up there, so whatever exposure I have had in life, I owe the origin to the village, to the community and I want to be part of it to eternity.” This description of his early life and his childhood days preparatory to his service to Nigeria is an obvious indication that his years outside his community and his various achievements are traceable to his spirit of communal responsibility. A seed he sowed while growing up at Okundi, his “humble village”.
3.1 Family
Ambassador Matthew Tawo Mbu is happily married to the love of his life, Katherine Mbu, (nee Anigbo) on the 22 October 1955. They have six children, four boys and two girls. The second son, is the first Nigerian to attend Eaton College London graduating with a first class Degree in Law died at a very early age of 36. His other children he said are doing fine while his eldest son is now a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Recalling how he contracted his marriage, he believed it was one of those few unions that are made in heaven.
“To tell you the truth” he began “my announcement for marriage was made before I made up my mind to pick a wife. Two weeks before, so the result was that all the small girls that knew me said, “is it me, is it me? …It all started on 30th September 1955” he recalled when the ‘captain of government business,’6 Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa told him that he will be making two announcement; one for his journey to the United Kingdom as the First Nigeria Pioneer Diplomat, the High commissioner for Nigeria and the other announcement for his marriage.
He reported that the prime minister told him “…you must not go to London unaccompanied, we are going to add an announcement for your marriage! You see Matthew, you are very popular, we see so many girls hanging around you and we don’t want you to go without a companion and therefore you must promise you will get wedded before you leave.”
Everything it seems, that has posited him in very advantageous situation both in career life and family were revelation first from the Irish Priest, Reverend Father Patrick Mehaam, and even his marriage influenced by an external factor, the Prime Minister. These two, his venture into Diplomacy and his marriage have given him unlimited pleasure and fulfillment and he had no regret following first his father’s wish and the prime minister. To him he said it is the act of God working in his life through them. He was quick to add that his children have had a free hand unlike him to chart their future and close their individual paths and that so far they have made the best of choices for themselves even when he did not enjoy such luxury.
His family he said gives him the greatest joy and the only sad moment was when he had to burry his son.
Mathew Mbu was the first in the history of his community to build his own mausoleum while still alive! This act was considered a taboo. To him, he saw nothing wrong with a man preparing himself for an inevitable journey by preparing his resting place.
According to him, the mausoleum was built for himself, his wife and a “guest” and never in his wildest dream believed that the unknown guest was going to be his son.
The death of his son brought with it what he called a malicious insinuation that he had a hand in his son’s death thus, his deciding to built the grave in advance in exchange for long his personal long life. He said he was very unhappy when he got to hear about it, that a community he loved and respected its people could trivialized a father’s love for his death child.
It was his pillar of strength, his wife who provided the shoulder for him to find solace and the energy to put everything behind him and continue to render his services to his community and the nation at large. But for his wife he believed the encounter would have affected him very badly. With her by his side he said he had enjoyed tremendously the journey of life and that, “If there is anything as re-incarnation, I will want to come back and still want to be married to Katherine, my wife, the love of my life.”
3.2 Educational Background
“Chief, Dr. Matthew Tawo Mbu, LL.B (Hons), LL.M., Ph.D., Diploma in International Affairs (Dip. I.A.) (Lond). Barrister-at-Law, of the Hounorable Society of the Middle Temple 1959. Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria 1960.”7
The above is the beginning of Dr. Mbu’s Curriculum Vitae displaying some of his educational laurels received over the years from his humble beginning when he started his primary education in the Roman Catholic Mission School in his hometown, Okundi from 1937 to 1940.
In 1941, he secured admission to Kakwagon Seminary and was there until 1943.
He enrolled for a postal tuition with Wosley Hall College in Oxford London from 1943 to 1945 where he obtained a Diploma in International Affairs.
He attended the University of London as an external candidate from 1955 to 1959 while serving as the first Nigerian High commissioner to that country.
On graduation, Dr. Mbu was called to the English Bar at middle Temple Inns, London, the same night by the same College with Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, the former British prime minister.
He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1960.
He had his Ph.D in Law from the University of Ibadan and holds several academic awards among which are Honoris causa LL.D. University of Ibadan, 1987 D.Litt. University of Cross River state (now University of Uyo) 1991, LL.D. University of Calabar 1992,
D.Litt., Abia State University 1996 with an LL.B (Hons) in 1959; LL.M in 1964 and a PhD in 1986, Chief Dr Matthew Tawo Mbu can be said to have a rich educational background.
He has served as the Pro-Chancellor University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) between 1980 to 1984, Chancellor Abia State University since 1996 and is the Government, Homewood House School, Tunbridge Wells, Kent in England.
He is a Fellow of the London Institute of World Affairs and the current President of the Nigerian Society of International Law.
References and End-Notes
M.T. Mbu, (75) Diplomat, Foreign Affairs Minister-ING, 12 September, 2004.
Patricia Dede Otuedon Hallmark of Labour vol.3, Lagos, Mahogany Limited, 1999. pg. 151.
‘Okhaghanra’ A word used in the local dialect to refer to white Missionaries.
Itawo, According to Chief Mbu the ‘I’ in his middle name was subsequently omitted from his original name to what he bears today as Tawo.
Senator D.O. Dafinone, OFR. Who’s Who in Nigeria Ajao-Estate Lagos, Nigerian International Biographical Centres, , Naycee Press & Publishers 1999.
6. Trevor Clark A Right Honorable Gentleman (The Life And Times Of Alhaji, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa) Zaria, Hudahuda publishing company Ltd 1991.
7. Curriculum Vitae of Ambassador M.T. Mbu updated 2004.
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 A Humble Servant.
The achievements and contributions of any individual to the society in which he lived and served most times can be used as an assessment of where he or she stands in that particular society. This much was the view of Mbu when he said, “…from the part of country where I come, we don’t lobby. So whatever I have achieved today is not because I lobbied for them but either an act of God that places me at the right place and the right time, or I am most times suitable for that particular assignment.”1
He sighted an example of how it was Okotie-Eboh the then Minister of Finance who often tells him to go and greet the Prime Minister because according to him, “…Sir Abubakar is very fond of you and often talk about you all the time.”2
His appointment to London had very qualified people in the corridor of power going to the Prime Minister begging to be appointed which surprised Alhaji Tafawa Balewa when he had to embargo that same job for six months so that Mr. Mbu “…can go and think about it.”
Mr. Mbu at the time with all due respect is a comfortable young man as he was then a Cabinet Minister. Herbert Onwuka Uneagbu, a former Editor of the West African Pilot, described him this way, “Mbu drove into Lagos in a Chevrolet Coupe with Green colours. He was a prosperous businessman and Director of the multi-national company, John-Holt, at Bansara. He was among the select one-fifth of the Federal Legislator who had posh cars; as such he got instant attention on the street of Lagos during sessions of the house. Well over half of the Legislators then especially those from the north, were professional politicians. M.T. dressed smartly and invariably in a dark or blue coloured business shirt. He cut quite a figure with his youthful looks and studious mien, as he strode into the House clutching a briefcase…”3
Maybe for this reason he was incorruptible and enjoyed such freedom of utterance when talking on corruption. “I have never stolen a penny from Nigeria!” he had instead contributed immensely to Nigeria through very genuine transactions on behalf of his beloved country.
4.1 Contributions and Achievements
The Democratic Government of President Olusegun Obasanjo awarded the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic CFR to Chief Matthew Tawo Mbu in the year 2000 the highest any Nigerian can get except he were a President or a Head of State.4
He has held more than seventeen public offices out of which ten were ministerial appointments but most importantly, he has led or represented Nigeria in several meetings among the best the world can present to discuss issues as it borders on their home country’s foreign policy position.5
He holds several chieftaincy titles among which are, Otu Agrinya6 of Boki and Ada-Idaha-ke-Eburutu.
He was reluctant to give his opinion on what he believed were, his major contributions and achievements first as a Diplomat and as a Statement, Dr, Mbu’s reaction was that “I don’t blow my trumpet there are records there for everyone to see.”
Prodded further on this issue his reasons were that as a member of the society that was given the opportunity to serve, his contributions or achievements belongs to the governments and people of Nigeria and not in any way a thing of personal glory. “Other persons with the same opportunity such as the one I had would have also been able to do what I did. I was only privileged to be where I found myself and I did my best.”
To Alexander Omini a Barrister at Law from Ediba in Abi Local Government Area of Cross-River State. Mbu in his opinion is a man of “Self-actualisation” who did not affect the community or the people. Particularly the youth who know little or nothing about him as there’s no such evidence of his contributions on ground except the story of his mausoleum.”7
The various achievements of ambassador M.T. Mbu can be encapsulated in the words of his sons Patrick Mbu and Senator Mark Mbu. To Patrick, he said, “He has been privileged” and to Senator Mark Mbu, “My father is a very gentle and modest man and irrespective of all achievements in life he remains humble.”
Political Contributions
The achievement of Ambassador Matthew Tawo Mbu, indeed are numerous but he holds very dear his encounter with Chinua Achebe world renowned novelist and the role he played in what he eventually turned out to be.
“When I was chairman of the Eastern public service commission during the pogrom in 1967, one of those persons that came to my office in search for a job was Chinua Achebe from Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (N.B.C) I decided to send him to the University of Nigerian Nsukka as a teacher from where today he has become a household name.
In the second Republic his long time friend Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), approached him to run as vice-president and because he did not wish to betray his party, he recommended to him Dr. Alex Ekwueme a man who had lost the governorship nomination of his party the NPN in Imo state.
Shagari was assured that Alex Ekwueme was innocent of any political corruption and that his friend and colleague Professor Kenneth Dike has vouched to his good character.
“ I made Alex Ekwueme Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1979 when I recommended him to my friend Alhaji Shehu Shagari, here in my house.”
As the Minister for the Navy, Dr Mbu was mandated to form a strong and virile Navy for the Nigerian Nation. He immediately set to work and converted the Department of marine into what today has become the Nigerian Navy.
He recalled that when Nigeria was to acquire her flagship, the then minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammad Ribadu approved an allocation of 6.5 million pounds. As the Minister in charge of the Navy, he made a request to compare prices with other countries since at the time he was on his way to Geneva to replace the Nigerian Minister in the Foreign Affairs, Mr Jaja Nwachukwu at the disarmament conference.
“ I did not only come back with a flagship befitting the Nigerian Navy for 2.8million Pounds and saved 3.7 million Pounds but had a deal to pay back the 2.8 million Pounds in ten years interest free!”
Mr. Peter De Young, the minister of Defence of Holland at the time, he said made a present of two ships as his country’s contribution to the Nigerian Navy.
“So we had three ships for 2.8million pounds instead of one flagship for 6.5 million pounds we were supposed to buy from England.”
Some years later he said that same ship he acquired for almost nothing was said to gulp more than 18million Pounds for just refitting.
Disarmament Conference
The disarmament conference to Dr. Mbu is very dear to him in all the list of priority of his diplomatic career, not even his election every year consecutively for five years as the unopposed candidate for the Vice President of the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) is as important. He remains the only Nigerian who have so risen or stayed that long on the world body of the highest and largest legislative meeting of all member countries. He remembered Professor Clarke from Poland and Professor Larn from India as two of the Presidents he served.
Jaja Nwachukwu the Nigerian Foreign minister was the Nigerian Representative in that conference, his inability to conduct himself befitting of the country he represented was to finally lead to his withdrawal as Nigerian chief Representative to that conference and in his stead, MT Mbu was directed to take his place. Recalling what led to Jaja Nwachukwu withdrawal, Dr. Mbu said, “Jaja on arrival in Geneva made a costly grammatical blunder when the International Press asked what has Nigeria got to offer on disarmament?
Jaja replied, “As for Nigeria, I come with an empty mind” he meant ‘I come with an open mind’.
News Agencies; the Voice of America, BBC, the whole Europe the next day carried the news that Nigerian Delegate to the Disarmament Conference came with an empty mind so what contributions can he possibly make to such serious discussion? Abubakar was flustered and he said, ‘Jaja again?’
In another development, Jaja’s photograph was taken while taking a nap during proceeding. The news had his picture with the caption that ‘Empty mind delegate, Nigerian Envoy to the UN in deep sleep’ Jaja in his response said that whenever he is thinking, he closes his eyes.
The Prime Minister has had enough of his continued embarrassment and ineptitude at International meetings according to Mbu, “So Sir Abubakar asked me, ‘Matthew, you go to Geneva, I need you there.’ He called the Nigerian Ambassador there and instructed that Jaja be replaced, I was made the Chief Nigerian Delegate in disarmament, and I was in that place from 1962 to 1965.
Ray Ofoegbu wondered and rightly so the choice of Jaja Nwachukwu as Nigerian Foreign Minister when he wrote:
“This is why it remains puzzling that Jaja Nwachukwu and his flamboyance, and later K.O. Mbadiwe and his irrepressible expansionism and exhibitionism, were associated with the low keyed and low profile foreign policies of Balewa. The correct candidates would have definitely been the M.T. Mbus, Dan Ibekwes, and Nuhu Bamalis of later years.” 8
The Prime Minister had on several occasions told young MT Mbu that as far as he was concerned, he was his Foreign Minister and that Jaja was only a political appointee imposed on him by Mbu’s party the NCNC. This stand was amply supported as Matthew Mbu was sent on more than two occasions to replace his politically appointed Foreign Minister and saved Nigeria much International embarrassment.
On his achievement in that conference, he said that they obtain a neutral test ban treaty. “Strange enough 30 years later in 1993, the banning of the use of Chemical weapon in United Nations Convention in Paris, I signed with Simeon Perez, the Isreali Prime minister at the time.
Ofoegbu has this to say on his role as Nigerian Chief Representative in the UN disarmament conference,
“ At the disarmament conference of the UNO Nigeria, in spite of its inexperience in world Affairs, learnt fast, and helped create the atmosphere which kept the superpowers from breaking up the conference. Furthermore. Nigeria along with other third world countries at the conference stressed time without number, the need to save mankind from the dangers of nuclear war, and the importance not only of banning nuclear tests in the Sahara but also of declaring Africa a nuclear- free zone”
Dr. Matthew Mbu’s joker was to finally decide the success of the conference when in an interview to the International Press he made a passionate appeal to Presidents Kennedy of America and Kruschevs of the Soviet Union to give the world ‘total disarmament’.
“I made a statement during the disarmament conference that Reuters News Agency and others reported for over three days…. I was asked what do I think of the fate of the disarmament now that we have succeeded to obtain a partial Nuclear Ban. I said this is a great achievement but we can do more, the two ‘Ks’, Kruschevs in Soviets Union and Kennedy in the United States should do their good work better and their better best that they should give us total disarmament.”
French Explosion of Atomic Bomb in the Sahara Desert
His action and comments in the disarmament conference was informed according to him by an incident that occurred soon after independence. “ The French government had exploded the Atomic Bomb in the Sahara and Nigeria government had gone ahead to cut-off diplomatic relations with her by sending away her envoy.
He ran back from Geneva on hearing Nigeria action against France and met with Sir Abubakar the Prime Minister. “I said, Sir what have you done? I said you have broken relationships with France and he replied is anything wrong with that? And I said yes indeed, France is one of the five members of the United Nations Security Council, one of the most powerful and we have just been admitted into the Committee of Nations, we can’t afford to flex our muscles against a member of the Security Council for now! We will be squeezed!”
To prove the relevance of France to a young independent nation as Nigeria, he pointed out their volume of trade with Nigeria at the time and prodded, “We are France’s best customers in Africa and can’t afford the economic implications of sending them parking unceremoniously.”
The Prime minister who had built his trust on matters of foreign relations on the professional advice of Ambassador Mbu became willing to rescind his decision but once again was stuck on how to go about it.
He asked the Honourable Ambassador on what step to take and Mbu replied, “Sir, it’s simple, France has two friends in West Africa, Houphoet Boigny of Senegal and his counter-part in Ivory Coast. Both Presidents are France’s best boys in the Francophone West Africa, reach out to them quickly and ensure that France Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Ramon is brought back. We have to do this discreetly through quite diplomacy. He thereafter thanked me. Later nobody knew Ramon had returned to Nigeria”
A similar “quite diplomacy”9 happened with the Portuguese Ambassador sent to Nigeria immediately after Independence and Ambassador Mbu in his official capacity as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Relations came to the rescue.
Portuguese Envoy to Nigeria at Independence
“Soon after independence, we have a problem on our hands, what could we do with the Envoy that Portugal sent to Nigeria as the Ambassador at independence?”
Don’t forget, Portuguese colonial policy was not only obnoxious but was totally unacceptable to African counties and Nigeria in particular and of course, there was uproar in the press that we should send him back packing. What is he doing in Nigeria? There was out cry in the press. It was I who went to Sir Abubakar and said to him, Sir don’t act precipitously he said ‘what do I do Matthew? They want me to send him back, he must go!’
“No Sir, I said, do one thing, send for him, talk to him, tell him to withdraw first and allow a more congenial atmosphere prevail and ask him to come back, but to send him away as a persona non grata as if he had done anything to incur your displeasure as an envoy. It is the policy of his government so he cannot be a persona non grata. Why do you say this he responded and I said, another factor Sir, that we may not know, I have looked at his statistic you know our groundnut pyramid in the North? He is our best customer.”
The Prime Minister’s Unofficial Foreign Minister
Between 1960-1966, Dr Matthew Mbu served in several capacities as Nigeria Chief Representative or Chief Delegate in very important International Conferences deserving of only the Foreign Minister. Why was this so when Nigeria at the time had a substantive Foreign Minister? He provided a reason:
“The Prime Minister, the Right Honourable, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa regarded me, not what I claimed that as far as he is concerned I am his Foreign Minister”
The preference of a seasoned Diplomat to a politically appointed Foreign Minister can be said to be one of the reasons why any Head of Government most times surrounds himself with a retinue of advisers as was the case with Mbu when he was appointed as the Special Assistant to the prime minister on Foreign Affairs between 1963 to 1966.
The Times of May 27, 1963 wrote; “Sir Abubakar Tafawa’s positive contribution redeemed the reputation of Nigeria which at the foreign ministers stage of the talks risked damage because of Mr. Jaja Nwachukwu unprofessional conduct.”10
Dr. Mbu recalled one particular incident when he was requested to take the place of Jaja in Kenya, former Tanganyika during a coup in that country. Although he argued that he cannot be the Chief Delegate when his Foreign Minister was also in attendance, he was nonetheless forced to assert his mandate when Jaja throw decorum to the wind and started banging his first on the conference table demanding that the delegate repeats the morning session that was missed by Nigerian Delegation due to his fault. Other delegates, who became irritated by his audacity to intimidate them to submission, called off his bluff and Nigeria once again was sitting on a very precarious diplomatic precipice if something urgent was not done.
At this juncture, Mbu asserts his authority as the Leader of the Nigerian Delegate, and asked the House to spare Nigerian a five minutes recess to enable her put her house in order.
On return, Mbu took the floor and profusely apologized on behalf of his minister thereafter he brought his professionalism in diplomatic conduct by making a request to the distinguished delegate to allow Nigeria chair the afternoon session having missed out in the morning session. His speech was received with a loud ovation and once again, Nigeria was saved another embarrassing moment.
The Nigerian Coat of Arms
Perhaps what remains his best contribution to date is the presence of the Eagle in the Nigerian Coat of Arms.
“We got stuck over the Coat Arm. The Nigerian Coat of Arm, what we have at the top of where the Eagle now perch was a crowned bird. I said that if we aspire to play a role in Africa as a leader and an effective member of the committee of nations and a very important player on the continent and in the sub-region, the design of crowned bird present for consideration in the National. Assembly does not do us justice. I will suggest we have the Eagle on top of the coat of arms.”11
The Eagle he stressed has meaning in African tradition, it is the king of the birds and our warriors and wrestlers who fought wars wear Eagle feathers on their caps to show their power. “That is my contribution to Nigeria and I am proud of it.”
He recalled on one occasion when the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha said to him,“… Don’t forget when you are writing your autobiography to let Nigerians and the world know that you gave us the Eagle on top of the coat of arms which we proudly wear on our uniforms as soldiers.”12
Today we have Eagle Square, Eagle bank super Eagles, Flying Eagle Golden Eaglet, Falcons and falconets, traceable to Dr. Mbu’s early contributions.
Nigeria’s First High Commissioner to Great Britain
The Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sir, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa must have held him in high esteem to agree to embargo the appointment of Young Ambassador Mathew Mbu for all of six months to give him time to think. He has this to say on his experience in London.
‘I had a blaze of publicity, a lot of it so much so that all my appointments were published, you won’t believe it, in the Royal column, of the times of London, where Her majesty Engagement were printed, Nigerian High commissioner of London. Every of my appointments were polished and anything to do with Africa, they will call me. I was on my appearance that I dress well. The Duke of Edinburgh used to tease me “who are your tailors?” It made the old Ambassador very jealous; they said why are they always talking about you.
I gave Nigeria a lot of publicity which they cannot get today with millions and millions of pounds all free publicity”.
When Nigeria at the time could boast of acclaimed lawyers such as the legendary Chief Osadebe G.C, Chief Davies H.O and Chief Arthur-Press, Mr. Mbu who had no credential was chosen for the most important diplomatic mission.
The opposition party, the Action Group led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo was not happy and accused the Balewa Administration of sending a Student to London as Envoy.
“They descended heavily on me because the Action Group said this boy going is a student, he hasn’t finished his Law, Nigeria is sending a student to go and read.”
The news got to the British Press and according to him a group of Journalist came to his office and asked him; “Your Excellency, is it true that you are reading Law?” and he replied with the following:
“That is a fact, would you have any objection if I said I read also History and I read Literature too and other books; is it wrong? They said no, and then I said if there is nothing wrong in my reading History or Geography for that matter, what is wrong if Matthew is to read Law? They said nothing and I said they are right. I am reading Law because I love it and I want to have knowledge of Law to guide me in my public performance to improve the quality of my contribution. Don’t you think so? That’s why I am reading Law.”
This reply was so important that instead of pulling down his person, his reputation soared and Nigeria was the better for it. He gave to Nigeria what he termed “quality service” while in the UK and in addition “I acquired the Nigerian house, I bought it free-hold for thirty five thousand pounds. But my friend, one of my colleagues in the Foreign Ministry who did refurbishing spent 12million pounds. His other contribution were the houses in Bayles-Water area named after him; Mathew Mbu’s house. Those houses he said were meant for Nigerian students when they complained of accommodation.
As Chief Delegate to the United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Privileges and Intercourse in Vienna, Austria and as leader of Nigerian delegation to the International Civil Aviation Organization Conference (ICAOC), Tokyo represents two other contributions he has made to Nigeria during his diplomatic career. This could explain the reason he was named the substantive Minister of Transport and Aviation on the eve of the coup of 15 January 1966.
For a man who had served 5years as Vice-President and President of the Judicial Committee of the Inter –Parliamentary Union (IPU), his wealth of the subject of International Law be utilized for the benefit of the Nigerian nation. It is therefore one of those credentials that today qualifies him to become the President of the Nigerian Society of International law.
Haven attained such high position in International diplomacy and law why would Nigeria lose Bakassi to Cameroon in the International Court of Justice. He blamed it on the leadership who many years after the civil war still see some section of the country as not belonging to the center and may not act in their interest.
This cannot be far from the truth as posited by Alloysius Atuegbu (MON), a lawyer and footballer when he cried out regretting his plight as coming from the Eastern part of the country recently.
“Oh yes I am suffering. I come from Anambra State but I am suffering because my rights are not given to me as a Member of the Order of the Niger, MON. I say it loud and clear, I am deprived of my rights because I come from the Eastern part of the country”.13
As Biafran Foreign Minister during the civil war while his counterpart also from Ogoja Mr. Okoi Arikpo was Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Mbu must have succeeded in portraying himself as the enemy of the state.14
His influence on the Chief antagonist was so strong that when this writer was growing up in Ogoja there used to be a song that goes thus:
“Mbu tell Ojukwu say
War no good o.
Ogoja is our home town.”15
Students are still playing this song during match-past.
Roles in Biafra and the Nigerian Civil War
Why did Ambassador Mbu chose to take side with Biafra against Nigeria and his reply was, “Femi Majekodunmi prevailed on me.“ He recounted how he met a group of Officers discussing the January 15, 1966 coup in Kaduna early January at the Nigerian Air Force Officer’s Mess on their desire to overthrow the government of the day through coup and proceeded to discuss the matter with the Prime Minister and his close confidant, Mr. Okpara who didn’t believe him. It was possible to discuss coup in the early sixties given the fact that Nigeria have never had one before.
The Prime Minister disbelieved him because of his faith in the Nigerian Police to defend the government of the day and this goes to show the type of confidence enjoyed by the Police during the early years of our independence.
Mbu said that the reason for the coup according to the coup plotters was the fact that the public office holders were corrupt and had enriched themselves with public funds to avert this coming take over of government he advised the Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubakar to “sack all of us since their excuse was that we are corrupt.” How naïve yet with the possibility to avert Nigeria’s first coup, which later spiraled into the wide gulf that ultimately, led to the civil war.
He left as Nigerian Chief Delegate to the burial of late Prime Minister of India, Mr. Chastrai on the eve of the coup.
Ambassador Mbu was received on arrival by Nigeria’s High Commissioner, Chief Adetokunbo Haastrup on the 15 January, 1966 who reported to him that while he was on his way here, a coup had taken place at home and that the Prime Minister was one of the casualties. “I told him” he mused.
“ When I came back from India, Ironsi, all of them wanted me to join the cabinet. That they went through my records and found out that I had not enriched myself and that they saw nothing other than my salary. My friend Odumegwu Ojukwu asked me how I managed it, not to have ‘stolen even a penny?’ ” When prodded further to join the new government, he told them that he already had an offer with the United Nations but suggested to them the system of diarchy to resolve the mistrust the coup must have caused.
On arrival in London to report for his office with the UN, he heard that Ironsi was also murdered in a counter-coup and it became certain that there was going to be an imminent purge.
“Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu and I were friends right from England when he was in Epson College.”
It was the efforts of Majekodunmi and Ojukwu who convinced him that:
“ Whatever they are offering you in the UN, Nigerians needs you most, the East in particular need you.”16
True to the above statement he returned to Nigeria and was made the chairman of the Eastern civil service commission where he helped provide a lot of life–line to an otherwise despondent citizen such as the renowned Novelist Professor Chinua Achebe. His response to this clarion call explains why he was caught in the East during the civil war and according to him, “If some of the advice I rendered had been adhered to at the time, I can assure you that today there would have been, that part of Nigeria that could still be called by whatever name it chooses to be called but with a greater degree of autonomy which they are fighting for today.
The OAU and UN wanted that part of the country to get her autonomy, her protection without necessarily breaking.”
He said he specifically told Ojukwu not to rely on Awolowo to declare the State of Oduduwa because he has backed out and has accepted to be number two, “so don’t break, don’t declare Biafra.”
His inability and difficulty to defend “my country that is killing and maiming their fellow country men.” Explains why he campaigned against Nigeria during the civil war years as Biafra Foreign Secretary. In that capacity, he got scholarships for all under – graduates and post – graduates students to German Universities.
Lord Carrighton, the British Foreign Secretary told me his home government was ready to support their cause at that time.
Dr. M.T. Mbu was a Diplomat through and through even during the war years. He gave audience to Chief Emeka Anyaouku when he came to mediate in Nigeria as “Assistant Director of International Affairs in the newly created Commonwealth Secretariat by the first Commonwealth Secretary-General, Arnold Smith.”17 in 1966. Chief Emeka told his story of his encounter with Dr. M.T. Mbu as Biafran Foreign Secretary.
“One of the first person I saw was MT Mbu, the Biafran Foreign Minister who years later served as Nigerian Foreign Minister under the Interim National Government headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan. …Within two hours of my arrival, I had to dive under a table in MT Mbu’s office because of the bombing raid by Federal Air Force” 18
Writing on the topic, ‘Nigeria-Commonwealth Relations, Problems and controversy Mr. Adebowale Suenu wrote on the strong attachment of British to the Biafran cause that can only enjoy such privilege on the account of Dr. MT Mbu who was the then Foreign Secretary. It is therefore not surprising that Britain was speaking from two sides of the mouth concerning the civil war in Nigeria.
‘The conflicting statement made by British Officials forced Nigerian government which initially found it difficult to trust the reliability of the Commonwealth to assist her situation concluded that Britain’s hand in its incapacitation was more than clear. While Nigeria could be dissatisfied with the Commonwealth posture in the Nigerian Federal Government-Biafran crisis, this could not legitimately be visited on Britain due to the nature of commonwealth and the British interest in the Biafran region, which she also had to protect.’
To justify this ‘double-speak’ policy during the civil war imbroglio, Mr. Adebowale Suenu gave the reason for Britain’s involvement, ‘…in 1967, the Commonwealth Secretary in the British government claimed that there was a degree of association and relationships between Britain’s representatives in Enugu and the Biafran leadership. This relationship according to him was in the interest of the British nationals there.”
This is a statement of fact because the Nigerian that was “Assistant Director of International Affairs”, comes from that part of Nigeria of the present day Anambra State, Chief Emeka Anyaoku as an indegine from the Ibo extract deserved British protection and rightly so, indeed.
In spite of the war, Ambassador Mbu till date believes as he did during and after the civil war that; “Deep at heart I remain a Federalist.”
4.2 PHILOSOPHY
Ambassador Mathew Mbu is variously described by friends and colleagues as, “very humble man”, “very hardworking”, “an accomplished man”, an enigma”, with “A man with a phenomenal memory”. He is said to “represents every thing good.” he is “a source of inspiration”, “a man with “a very solid character”, “very amiable”, “so charming, so sweet to everybody”. 19
His wife captures the philosophy behind the man Dr. M T Mbu when she said this of her husband. “He is very intelligent generous, kind, courageous and courteous. He is also an easy – going man, and accessible to communicate with. He is a strict father…”
Senator David Dafinone his friend since 1955 sees him as a “… true democrat who believes in the freedom of choice; and every body should have and exercise that freedom if we are to make headway. He believes in the rule of law, in transparence, in probity, in accountability, in equity and justice”.
He buttresses his position on Mbu by the fact that, in all his years of service to Nigeria, “Matthew has never been the subject of any probe”. His concern has always been the interest of his people and his country. This he believes is the mark of a true leader and if the younger generation must learn from the past and for the present to be enriched for a better future,
“Dr Matthew Mbu provides an example of selfless service for the growth and development of the nation.”
To Dr Mbu his philosophy is very simple,
“If I have the opportunity I will create a condition where none is too rich and none too poor.”
He greatly admired Abraham Lincoln of America and advice that “let the young people of Nigeria and the world know that Lincoln rose to the pinnacle in spite of bitter hardship … in the valley and crevices of the climb from bottom to the top.”
He sees Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the First Indigenous President and Governor-General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as an uncompromising defender of the rights and dignity of the black race. Zik’s five pronged philosophy and programme of Spiritual Balance, Social Regeneration Economic Determinism, Mental Emancipation and Political Risorgimento or simply Resurgence he said is most appropriate if Africans are to be liberated in body and soul.20
The work of the great Chinese philosopher Confuscius interests him. He is of the opinion that Confuscius statement that “If there is righteousness in the heart of the individual, there will be nobility of character. If there is nobility of character, there will be happiness in the home. If there is happiness in the home, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.” 21 These words of wisdom if properly employed in the conduct of our personal and national lives he said will provide us with a positive focus for development.
The Place of God and Religion
Ambassador Matthew Tawo Mbu believes that God exists and everything in creation revolves around the appreciation of this indisputable fact.
“The privileges we enjoy, the favour we receive that differentiates our little efforts from others is the work of God.”
He is a Knight of St. John to back up his belief in the one Supreme God and thus a Christian.
Growing up in Okundi, his home place with no electricity and the mission school around the bend and The Reverend Principal, Father Meeham as his childhood idol, his comment that “I think religion is the key.”, did not come as a surprise.
To Ambassador Mbu “Religion is so very important even when you are not so religious.” There is that being he continued, “That is more superior to us and must be served. Essentially there is God, I believe he is Almighty”
All his achievement in life to this moment he ascribed to that unseen hands of God that helped him paved the way.
Professor I.E. Sagay a lecturer and an International Lawyer said this of him, “He can be referred to as a living example of what Shakespeare said about some being born great, others achieving greatness and some having greatness thrust upon them. I will regard him (Mbu) as one whom greatness was thrust upon him.”
His father, Chief Tawo Mbu had had a very profound influence on his life and with all his numerous achievements, he still longed to have half of what his father has to be a more fulfilled person.
“My father by our modern day standard was a very rich man; anything he touches become money. I share this attribute with him and thank God, I never thought of it as any negative influence.
It started with my father, if I have half of my father’s endowment, I would have been a better person. He thinks so far into the future. He has so much influence on me.”
His exploits at the disarmament conference in Geneva made him popular as the “Poet Diplomat” and as the poem sang during and after the civil war by the people of Ogoja where he comes from urging him to tell Ojukwu to end the war couple with his poetic appeal to Kennedy and Kruschev on total disarmament the words of Ambassador Matthew Tawo Mbu will forever be branded in our hearts whenever we sing this song:
“Good, Better, Best
I will never rest
Until my Good is Better
And my Better Best”. 22
We should always remember the “The Poet Diplomat” that left this shore at the tender age of twenty-six in an official capacity as Nigeria’s First High Commissioner to the Land of the Queen of England as a mere student and went ahead to shame critics that age is nothing but a number.
To drive home this point, Dr. MT Mbu up till date remains the youngest ever Federal Minister when at the tender age of 21 he was named the first Nigerian Minister of Labour, a ministry considered so important in the early history of the emergence of Nigeria as a nation that only the brightest of British citizens are so honoured.23
References and End-Notes
1. MT Mbu (75), Diplomat, Foreign Affairs Minister-ING. 12 September 2004. 10.00am.
2. Okotie-Eboh Nigerian Minister of Finance in the 1st Republic in a statement directing Mr. Mbu to visit the Prime Minister.
3. Patricia Dede Otuedon Hallmark of Labour vol.3, Lagos, Mahogany Press Limited, 1999. pg. 196-203.
4. Citation: Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic CFR, 2000.
5. Senator D.O. Dafinone, OFR. Who’s Who in Nigeria Ajao-Estate, Lagos Nigerian International Biographical Centres, Naycee Press & Publishers 1999. pg. 453-455.
6. “Otu Agriyan” According to Dr. Mbu, the title of “Otu Agriyan” is the higest title for a War-Lord. In any public cerewmony, such a titleholder deserved to be` served seven times before any other person. “Today it is more in speaking for the community in the promotion of welfare and good relationship. I think now it is more of a honourary title to keep up the tradition.”
7. Alexander Omini Esq. (32), Legal Practioner, Barrister at Lawr, 29 July 2004, 3.30pm.
8. Ray Ofoegbu. The Nigerian Foreign Policy, Enugu,
Star Printing and Publishing company Limited, 1978.
9. Ambrose Akor Mbu’s Dream, The Guardian Newspaper. Lagos, Nigeria, October 19, 1997.
10. Encarta Premium Suite 2004 “The Times Magazine”, London, http://www.the-time.co.uk, 27 May 1963.
11. Federation of Nigeria: Debates of the Federal House of Representatives 1952-1954.
12. Comments from General Sani Abacha to Mbu as reported by him during the interview.
13. - Saturday Sun Newspaper (September 18,2004)
Vol. 2 No:88, page 16.( Ex-Green Eagles player reacting to his neglect by the Nigerian government.
14. Ralph Uwechue Reflection on the Nigerian Civil war Facing the future. Paris, Jeune Afrique, 1971.
15. A local song composed and sang by the Ogojas during the civil war years which is still been sang up till date as a remembrance of their faith on Mbu to call Ojukwu to order and end the war.
16. Reasons on why Mbu came back from UK attributed to Ojukwus appeal for him to return home and to the East.
17. Modupeola Faseke Ph.D and others. Nigeria and the Commonwealth- Reflections and Projections Lagos, JSEP, 2003.
18. Chief Emeka Anyaoku The Inside Story of a modern Commonwealth. London, Evans Publishers, 2004.
19. Interviews and comments collected by Mrs. Patricia Otuedon for the Hall-mark of Labour Projects comprising of the followings Senator David Dafinone, Mrs. Catherine Mbu, Professor I.E. Sagay, Professor Ben Nwabueze, Emeka Okoli, Senator Mark Mbu, Mrs. Onari Duke and Navy Commodore Ebitu O. Ukiwe (RTD).
20. Essay: Zik and the African Revolution (The life & times of Zik).
21. A quote from the Chinese Philosopher, Confuscius.
22. A popular motivational song for pupils of the South-East and South-South of Nigeria coined from Mbu’s comments in the disarmament conference.
23. N. Nik Onyechi Nigerians Book of First (a Handbook on Pioneer Nigerian Citizens, Institution and events) Owerri-Enugu, Nigeriana publications, 1989. pg. 102.
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 CONCLUSION
The relevance of Ambassador M.T. Mbu as one of the very few Nigerians who has the “ key to the United Nation”1. Got to its all time high following the Infamous handing over of government of the then military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) when he had to “step-aside.”2
It should be remembered that his having to step aside was occasioned by the Annulment of the June 12 Presidential Elections believed to have been won by the Social Democratic Party Candidate (SDP), Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola.
The decision of Babangida government to annul that election, affected negatively on Nigeria Foreign Relations and the best man to assuage the frayed tension was Ambassador Mathew Mbu a seasoned Diplomat, who was called in and saddled with the responsibility of cleaning up Nigeria’s image as the Foreign Affairs Minister in the Interim Cabinet of Chief Ernest Shonekan 1992-1993.
He was later appointed as the, Nigerian Ambassador to Germany 1998-1999 by the Government of General Abdulsallam Abubakar and has served Nigeria well to the best of his ability.
Ambassador Tawo Mathew Mbu strongly supports the idea that Nigeria can use her “…diplomatic leverage to claim back its predestined role as the leader of Africa.”3 By this, he meant that Nigeria should, “…actively cultivate the goodwill of the leaders of the international community…and firmly avoid being too closely identified with certain states with their peculiar problems as they have nothing to offer”.
This line of foreign policy stand suggested by him is very familiar given the fact that he served in the first Republic of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa between 1960-1966 that pursued vigorously a conservative foreign policy of non-alignment immediately after independence.4
Dr Mbu, was called to the English Bar the same night, by the same college with Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, the former British Prime Minister, and his hob-nobbing with other political leaders in the world, explains his influence up till date.
In the early history, preamble to the granting of independence to Nigeria, there exists what could be regarded as “easy diplomacy” and Nigeria was the beautiful bride that every nation courted, according to Ambassador Mbu, “…with our increased moral stature and greater economic power, we were properly poised to play a leadership role in Africa”.
He was to later play such very significant roles for Nigeria in many international fora in shaping the conduct of diplomacy with such ease devoid of the present complications of “us against the world” struggle by nations. He refers to the period as “…those golden days of our diplomacy”.
What went wrong and why has the image of the country plummeted from the height these super-diplomats have painstakingly built over the years?
We find in his own word answers to this bugging question when he said:
“The western capitalist state that respected or even almost feared us in the middle of the late seventies now dictated our economic policies and indeed seconded their officials to our ministry of finance to supervise our compliance with conditionality and Structural Adjustment Program. We lost our economic sovereignty completely and with it a great degree of our political sovereignty” This statement sounds familiar with Chief, Olusegun Obasanjo’s Inaugural speech on May 29, 1999 as Nigeria’s democratic President when he said:
“Nigeria once a well respected and key player on the international community became a pariah nation. We shall pursue a dynamic foreign policy to promote friendly relations with all nations, and will continue to play a constructive role in the United Nations Organisation (U.N.O), the Organisation of African Unity (O.A.U), and other international bodies. We shall continue to honour existing agreements between Nigeria and other countries. It is our firm resolve to restore Nigeria fully to the prestigious position of eminence in the comity of nations.” 5
With such posture by Mr. President, it is expected that this government take advantage of his experience but this seems not to be the case as he is left in the fringes while Nigeria looses a most important case at The Hague on Bakassi.
Nigeria, the Ambassador assured “…still commands some compassion and goodwill of major actors in the International community.”
Whether this goodwill is sufficient or not, given the present reality characterized by the almost irrelevant foreign policy status of non-alignment becomes a matter of conjecture.
Following the end of the cold war and the emergence of the dominance of capitalist economy championed by the west, a lot more will have to be done to situate Nigeria at a more advantaged position in the international circle.
He however proffered a solution that, “Once we established a democratic system of government through a credible process, not only will the States and institutions with capital grant us economic aid and loans on favourable terms. There will also be greater willingness on the part of our creditors to write off considerable portions of our international debts.” 6
The issue of debt forgiveness has today taken the center stage as thus this advice can go a long way to assist the government in her efforts in that direction.
One area according to Dr. Mbu where Nigeria has maintained a laudable consistency is in the area of Peace-keeping and Conflict Resolution in Africa. Nigeria has contributed Forces to virtually every UN, OAU and ECOWAS since 1960. He said we have restored peace and contributed to the stability of many African States such as Congo (UNUC), 1960-1964, Lebanon (UNIFIL), 1978-1982, Somalia (UNOSOM), 1993-1995, Namibia (UNTAG) 1989-1990, Angola (UNAVEM), 1989-1990, Rwanda (NMOG) & (UNAMIR, 1992-1994, Bosnia-Hezegovina (UNPROFOR), 1991-1995, Chad 1982-1983 and Liberia and Sierra Leone (ECOMOG) 1990 till date.
“The issue of conflicts is, in my view, the most pressing of all challenges facing Africa today. Conflicts have cast a dark shadow over the prospects for a united, secure and prosperous Africa which we seek to create.”
His view on the issue of conflict in Africa and a search for some sort of solution may have been the reason why he chose to write his Doctorate Thesis on the subject: The OAU and the settlement of African disputes- An appraisal of machinery, practice and effectiveness. His submission was that the OAU (now AU) mechanism for conflict resolution is sufficient if member states will be more co-operative in this endeavour.7
If Nigeria desires to continue her dominance in Africa and world foreign relations policies she must as a matter of necessity take seriously his recommendation.
“I recommend that we should reaffirm and redouble our activities in the area of peace-keeping and conflict prevention and resolution in Africa…I wish to emphasis the fact that Nigeria is a country well endowed by God in every respect. We have enormous material resources and large dynamic industrious and creative population.”
He however bemoans the fact that our sorry situation today is a direct consequence of the poor management of our resources, both human and material. He charged “We must set standard so that those coming behind will find something to emulate. If we do not respect standards and do not acquire what others can aspire to maintain, then woe betide us. The ‘fast’ lane leads to crashes to disaster.”
Chief, Dr. Ambassador Matthew Tawo Mbu has lived by all his words and deserve a place in our history books for posterity. He is one among the many of our unsung heroes who has been in the corridor of powers before our independence and remains relevant in our desire for a corrupt free Nigeria. He was the first Nigerian on record to “return change”8 to government coffers and is among the longest serving Nigerian still alive, his experiences and recommendation to a Nigeria of our dream can comfortably take us to the next level.
Ambassador Mbu is listed in Who’s Who in the Commonwealth; Who’s Who in the World; Who’s Who in Nigeria; Marquis Who’s Who in the World; NewsWatch Who’s Who in Nigeria; American Biography of Men of Distinction in the 20th Century; Cambridge Biographical Centre, England ‘Men of Achievements in the 21st Century and also is a member of many international bodies.
He is a Fellow of the London Institute of World Affairs, Fellow Royal Society of Arts; Fellow Royal Commonwealth Society; Fellow Royal Economic Society and Nigerian International Biographical Centres’ Who’s Who.9
A man with such credentials earned through the years deserved to be studied with a view to bring to light his humble achievements to serve as guides for younger generations to emulate.
Great men on whom the burdens of defining a niche are most often misunderstood by friends, family and the community for which they struggle day and night to explaining why they did what they have to do as at when they did it.
Raph Waldo Emerson was forced to ask, “Is it so bad, then to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.”10
For a man who have served in the corridor of powers since he was twenty to live a modest and almost austere life when everybody’s expectation is that he should have amass enough money to throw parties at the slimmest excuse is surely a misunderstood person in Nigeria.
The ultimate desire of every man or woman is to be happy and contented and Ambassador Mbu has every reason to be happy with his life and have no regret or apology for living it in full.
Reference and End-Notes
1. Professor Siyan Oyeweso’s a Lecturer and Head of Department of History and International Studies; comments on the relevance of Ambassador MT Mbu to Nigerian Foreign Relations.
2. President Ibrahim Babangida made popular the term “step aside” to explain his unceremonious exist from power in August 1993.
3. Ambrose Akor Mbu’s Dream, The Guardian Newspaper. Nigeria. October 19, 1997.
4. Victor Nwaozichi Chibundu Foreign Policy (with particular reference to Nigeria 1961-2002) Ibadan, Spectrum Book limited, 2003. pg 12.
5. Olusegun Obasanjo “Inaugural Address to the International Community”, Abuja, Federal Ministry of Information, 29 May 1999. pg 17.
6. MT Mbu (Essay) The re-appraisal of Nigerian Foreign Policy.
7. MT Mbu (Ph.D thesis),London, The O.A.U and the Settlement of African Disputes, 1995.
8. This term “return Change” is used to refer to honest person who treat government funds with all sense of accountability and return any excess fund in their position having completed their assignments.
9. Patricia Dede Otuedon Hallmark of Labour vol.3, Lagos, Mahogany Limited, 1999. pg. 181.
10. Ralph Waldo Emerson a highly quoted philosopher.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
(A) PRIMARY SOURCES
INTERVIEWS:
Ambassador M.T Mbu, (75), Diplomat, (Foreign Affairs Minister ING), !2 September 2004.
Professor Siyan Oyeweso, Senior Lecturer, Former Head of Department (History and International Studies) Lagos State University, 16 August 2004.
Mr. Adebowale Suenu Lecturer, Department of History and International Studies, Lagos State University, 20 August, 2004.
Alexander Omini Esq. (32), Legal Practioner, Barrister at Lawyer, 29 July 2004.
Matthew Otu (35), Soldier, Sergent, October 14, 2004.
Mrs. Patricia Otuedon: Interviews and comments collected for the Hallmark
of Labour Projects with Senator David Dafinone, Mrs. Catherine Mbu, Professor. I.E. Sagay, Professor Ben Nwabueze, Emeka Okoli, Senator Mark Mbu, Mrs. Onari Duke and Navy Commodore Ebitu O. Ukiwe (Rtd.).
Mr. Lazarus Ukpor Okache, (33) Transporter, Mechanic, October 24, 2004.
(B) OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS
M.T. Mbu, Curriculum Vitae updated 2004.
Citation, Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic CFR, 1996.
Federation of Nigeria: Debates of the Federal House of Representatives
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Raph Uwechue Ed. Who is Who in Africa. Nigeria, Africa Books Ltd. 1991.
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Olusegun Obasanjo “Inaugural Address to the International Community”
Abuja, Federal Ministry of Information, 29 May 1999.
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- MT Mbu The O.A.U and the Settlement of African Disputes (An
appraisal of machinery, practices and effectiveness)
-A thesis presented for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Faculty of Laws,
University of London 1995.
-The re-appraisal of Nigerian Foreign Policy
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- Peace Keeping and Conflict Resolution
- Domestic Politics and the International Environment (the third republic of my Dream).
- Zik and the African Revolution (The life & times of Zik)
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L.O. Oladepo Oyelakin, The Nigerian Foreign Service, Lagos, ICIC Press, 1989.
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