‘A Rare Breed’: Tinubu Lauds Late US Envoy, Carrington

National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola
Tinubu, has paid tribute to the former United States Ambassador to
Nigeria (1993-1997), Walter Carrington, who died on
Wednesday.

In a statement released on Saturday by his media office, Tinubu
credited Carrington as one of the heroes who fought for Nigerian
democracy during the military regime of General Sani Abacha in the
1990s.

“He openly and unconditionally championed the advent of
democratic freedom and constitutional governance in the country,”
he said.

Although Carrington was an American citizen, Tinubu noted, he
gave his all to the Nigerian causes and acted far beyond the call
of duty.

“Ambassador Carrington was a rare breed,” the former Lagos State
Governor said. “He demonstrated the power and progress that could
happen if only Africa and Black America recognized that bond that
exists between them. He saw and nurtured it.

“That bond is what led him to do to for us as a brother, not
just an Ambassador, would do. For this, he was to face danger and
attempts against him in Nigeria.”

READ TINUBU’S FULL TRIBUTE:

“Ambassador Walter Carrington – Citizen of One Nation, Son of
Two”:

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of former U.S. Ambassador
to Nigeria, Walter Carrington. We thank God for giving Ambassador
Carrington a long life of 90 years full of exemplary deeds and the
best of human achievement.

“We thank God for giving Nigeria Walter Carrington when He did.
Ambassador Carrington came to Nigeria on a diplomatic assignment
but his true mission was even more sublime. Walter was both an
African and an American. This identity he knew full well for it
shaped who he was and guided what he did. The best of both worlds
was evident in him. This man may have been the citizen of one
country but he was surely the brave and passionate son of two
nations.

“Last month, I penned a tribute to Ambassador Carrington as
Nigeria joined him in celebrating his 90th birthday. Little did any
of us know that we would so soon have to say farewell to this
outstanding example of courage amidst humility, of intellect teamed
with compassion. Walter Carrington was a renowned scholar, author,
and astute, innovative diplomat. These things are excellent but
they don’t tell the full picture. He was much more than that. He
was a proud and noble black man who stood up for his convictions
when it would have been easier to simply turn and look the other
way.

“As American Ambassador to Nigeria (1993-1997), Carrington lived
with us during a troubled and uncertain time. We were in the
clutches of an epic battle between democracy and dictatorship,
between freedom and oppression, between enlightened progress and
authoritarian reaction. Carrington could have maintained a
diplomatic distance. He could have acted cozily with the Abacha
regime. His life would be been less difficult and safer. But he
eschewed personal comfort for the higher prize of a greater
mission. He lent himself to the fight against repressive
government. He openly and unconditionally championed the advent of
democratic freedom and constitutional governance.

“Without the courage and contributions of Walter Carrington,
democracy might not have come when, and as it did. Certainly, more
of our democracy activists would have suffered and perhaps lost
their lives but for his extraordinary intervention. In helping to
secure the blossom of democracy, he became a th orn in the side of
the regime and of those who simply cannot stand a good democracy or
people being free.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

“Among the many foreign friends Nigeria has known over the
years, Carrington was the most selfless. He was also the foreigner
who contributed the most to the end of military rule in our land.
As such, he acted far beyond the call of duty. He acted as the rare
human being he was – the son of two nations. To paraphrase the
title of his book, he refused to remain silent in a time of
tyranny. He refused to be wined and dined while others were being
jailed. He refused to be feted while others were being beaten. He
refused to say all was well when so many were undergoing all manner
of indignity and improper danger.

“Ambassador Carrington was a rare breed. He demonstrated the
power and progress that could happen if only Africa and Black
America recognized that bond that exists between them. He saw and
nurtured it. That bond is what led him to do to for us as a
brother, not just an Ambassador, would do. For this, he was to face
danger and attempts against him in Nigeria.

“What many of you did not know is that he was also to pay a
price in America. Many did not like the unabashed stand he took as
a black man standing up for a black nation. They sought to hurt and
impede him professionally, he knew this was the danger he would
face yet he marched onward. He knew the path he chose was not the
easy one but it was truly the right one and thus it was the only
path a man such as he was bound to take.

“As such, he was a man of character and high principle. Hounded
and hunted, Carrington stood undaunted. He refused to do less than
what was right for America and for Nigeria. We can never forget
Ambassador Carrington. To forget him would be a shameless act like
forgetting one’s older brother. Instead, we honor him. His name
shall take its rightful and good place in the annals of this
nation. The principled manner in which he lived should be taught in
to our children.

“We should duly honor this black man who return to us from
across the ocean to prove that neither the passage of time nor
great distance can break the familial ties between us. We thank
Walter Carrington for his love of us, and his special contributions
to this country. May I offer condolences to his loving wife and our
sister, Arese, who was such a wonderful partner to Walter.

“May God give her the solace and comfort that can come only from
His hand. May God’s tenderest mercies be with their children and
the entire Carrington family over the loss of their father and
patriarch. We must all honor Walter by honoring the laudable ideals
for which he stood. This man became a bridge between Africa and the
African-American. Let us continue his legacy by expanding and
strengthening that bridge for the benefit of our race. Ambassador
Carrington has gone to be with God. But before he left, he taught
us by example what it means to be pan-Africanist. Now we must
follow. Well done Ambassador Carrington. Extremely well done!”

Tinubu Media Office, August 15, 2020

Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/08/16/a-rare-breed-tinubu-lauds-late-us-envoy-carrington/

Written by

admin

Join to follow writers