Nigeria confirms death of envoy to US

Obama made this known in a condolence message he sent through his spokesperson, Mark Toner, to the government of Nigeria and the deceased’s family.
Adefuye, whose tenure as ambassador ends on August 31, 2015, died after suffering from an heart attack in a Washington, DC hospital. His passionate advocacy and defense of Nigeria contributed immensely to Nigeria being declassified as “a country of interest” in America’s terrorism watch list following the Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s underwear bombing saga. We have lost a strong voice at the worldwide arena. “I am so proud that he was an epitome of the true Nigerian spirit, but also very sad that he left us suddenly”.
Adefuye was born in 1947, in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State and served as the Nigerian High Commissioner to Jamaica, with concurrent accreditation to Haiti and Belize from 1987 to 1991.

A former professor of history, Mr. Adefuye was in 2010 appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan as Nigeria’s ambassador in the US.
The statement, which was signed by Coordinator of the PDP Governors Forum, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, said the forum was saddened by the demise of the veteran diplomat, while describing him as a consummate envoy whose patriotism and commitment to Nigeria’s global image was never in doubt. Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye. Nigeria lost a distinguished ambassador who will be dearly missed. “May God grant his family the comfort and peace during this critical period” Ashafa ended