‘Namaste Modi’, Bianca Ojukwu Said To The Indian PM,’ Nne Kedu ?’ Modi Responded
The Oasis Reporters
November 18, 2024
Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Bianca Onoh Ojukwu performed her first major assignment in office a few weeks after her confirmation in office by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by receiving the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
It was obvious going by the airport protocols and banter between the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister and the Indian PM that each of them had had enough time to read up about each other prior to their first meeting.
Being a former Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, Bianca Ojukwu who is a daughter of former Anambra State Governor, Dr. CC Onoh who was groomed in posh schools both in Nigeria and the UK knew a few things about diplomatic niceties in the public medium.
In India, the mode of greeting is activated by saying ‘namaste’, a kind of welcoming ‘how are you’ that is common on the streets of New Delhi or Mumbai.
Not to be outdone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself who is an avid tech buff and successful politician knows that Bianca Ojukwu had just been confirmed by the Nigerian Senate where they called her ‘beautiful’ inclusive of other fine accolades.
With a large Indian community in Nigeria, it was easy to know that she is Igbo from the South East of Nigeria. Indians who speak Igbo had sent a few Igbo banters to Modi before his plane departed New Delhi for Abuja and he practiced them enroute.
To hear a few friendly banters, quietly and smoothly spoken in anyone’s dialect by a visiting dignitary is bound to elicit chuckles and smiles as onlookers saw at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Nné, Kedu ?
That is the best thing slang anyone can bestow on any comely lady in Igbo land. It’s literally transliterated as, Lady, how are you?
I’m fine Sir.
Ee bata goo na obodo ma, ee bae ifunanya di.
You’ve just entered a good town where peace and love reigns. On behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you are welcome to Nigeria.
The FCT minister (like the city Mayor), Bar. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike was on hand to welcome PM Modi into the City of Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital.
In the words of Foreign Affairs Minister, ambassador Bianca Onoh Ojukwu writes:
The Eagle has Landed….
It was like a scene right out of a blockbuster movie as the Aircraft landed at the Abuja Airport and the iconic Shri Narendra Modi emerged.
What an electric atmosphere.
We were there to welcome him, but even more, the Indian community, and it’s business tycoons from all over the country showed up to welcome their much beloved leader.
Shouts of ‘ Modi ! Modi ! rent the air, as the Nation’s Capital Territory represented by its minister presented him with a key to the city.
India has a very vibrant economy with manufacturing and technology leading the vanguard that has moved millions of citizens from poverty to prosperity. A nation that used to suffer from hunger with people dying of starvation in the past now exports billion dollars worth of food and medicines to Nigeria, as well as playing active roles in the economy of the most populous country in Africa through manufacturing and other facets of the economy.
India belongs to the Brics+ Comity of nations.
Greg Abolo
gregabolo@gmail.com
