TWELVE days after Vanguard reported that the Ambassador of Greece in Nigeria, Mr. Haris Dafaranos and his wife, Haralambo, labelled Nigerians thieves, there has been no reaction whatsoever from the Nigerian authorities.

Mr. Dafaranos and his wife were at the reception area of Transcorp Hilton in Abuja on July 11 when the wife found a wristwatch, which a client of the hotel forgot while checking out.

She refused to hand over the wristwatch to the security personnel on duty at the reception who wanted to keep it for the owner. She said Nigerians were habitual thieves, she did not trust that the wristwatch would get to the owner. She refused to listen to the appeals of even the security manager on duty to turn in the wristwatch.

The arrival of Mr. Notore Kolagbodi, to claim his wristwatch did not change Mrs. Dafaranos’ mind. She wanted proof of ownership from Mr. Kolagbodi.

Hot exchanges between Nigerians and the woman did not bring her to her senses. She continued calling Nigerians thieves. Her husband supported her. “Nigerians are thieves. Can anyone of them deny that fact? What is the assurance that you guys did not connive to bring this fellow as the rightful owner of the wrist watch?,” Mr. Dafaranos asked?

The woman had to be persuaded to hand over the wristwatch after she had exhausted herself.

We think that the silence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this matter is worse than the undiplomatic behaviour of the Greek couple. If the Dafaranos think so contemptuously of Nigerians, they have no business being in this community a day longer. What informed their audacity? Is it the knowledge that they can abuse Nigerians and keep their positing?

This was not a one off unguarded statement. The ambassador and his wife were insistent on their abusive views about Nigerians. They should be made to realise that this type of conduct is below the conduct of a diplomat and is unacceptable, and one that surely deserves a recall of the couple.

It is appropriate for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct a serious investigation into the behaviour of the Greek ambassador who before now was harping on the importance of the economic ties between Nigeria and his country.

People witnessed the incident, which was in an open area, the ever-busy Hilton reception lobby. They included the hotel security manager on duty during the incident. If the investigation indicts him, he should be deported immediately.

Greece also owes Nigerians an apology for sending them an ambassador who would abuse them, as if Greece is populated by only saints.

Nigerians who visit embassies in Nigeria for businesses are subjected to serial abuses. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains a stoic silence on the conduct of these embassies. Indifference of government to the poor treatment Nigerians get at embassies could have emboldened Mr. Dafaranos and his wife.

Whatever happened, the incident deserves full investigation and punishment for any guilty parties.

- vanguard

“Nigerians are thieves. Can anyone of them deny that fact? What is the assurance that you guys did not connive to bring this fellow as the rightful owner of the wrist watch?,” Mr. Dafaranos asked?

Even in our own country, this is the height of it. Are Ojo Maduekwe and his team still sleeping? Someone should wake them up and remind them of their responsibilities.

i guess because he said the truth.

I read where the IG Okiro was told to return 166 million he took from a liquidated bank.

That was from the police itself.

The report says that it was the Greek's Ambassador's wife that said 'Nigerians are theives' whilst her husband was there watching, and not reprimand her.

1. Every country has its own band of thieves including Greece, so the business of thieves is not exclusive to any country.

2. She and her husband are not diplomatic, and not a good representatives of their country

3. We have a hopeless and 'directionless' govt who should have laid a complaint, and asked the Ambassador and his wife not only to apologises to Nigeria and Nigerians then for them to be recalled.

4. Our 'leaders' are certified thieves, so they cannot question the woman, because she is saying the truth.

In any event, we have no govt who is working on behalf of the people.

MrCrackles:

Why should he be deported?
My friend i dont agree. . . . Most Nigerians are bloody thieves, let us be upright with ourselves!

Even if every Nigerian is a thief which is an impossibility, that still doesn't make it right for them to come here and insult us. An extremely undiplomatic act.

MrCrackles:

I see your point. . . But on diplomacy, do Nigerians respect that in other host Countries?

I guess not!!

And why all the fuss over another person's wristwatch? Nigerians already know the kind of people that they are; they do not need the Ambassador's wife to remind them.

I support the couple - Nigerians are thieves.

i agree - have u ever tried doing business in Nigeria - country full of longa throats.

Real funny story though!!! Normally, would have been on the other side against the woman for not turning that wristwatch in to security or giving it to the guy who came in claiming it was his. But, roflmao!!!! I don't see wwiiinnn!!! for naija people hand, so I cannot blame her !! roflmao!!!

I still remember the idiot that stole Naira 25 right out of my pocket when I was 10 years old. It was all the money I had and this guy pretended he did not.

this folks have to go home, it is not part of diplomatic work to pass judgement on your host country. they have to go home. the nigerian government has a duty to demand it.

off course. Our leaders are rouges.

so what are they/she still doing in the midst of thieves or whatever brought them to Nigeria? as she claim, maybe she actually wanted to keep the wrist watch who says she was a saint?

@SeanT21


i agree with you

MrCrackles:

Why should he be deported?
My friend i dont agree. . . . Most Nigerians are bloody thieves, let us be upright with ourselves!

pls, recall your statement.

@post.

the ambassador and his wife shld be deported immediately, they show how really brianless greeks are

and the hotel security manager shld be jailed for not giving the woman a slap that will send her head spinning 360 degrees.

sley4life:

off course. Our leaders are rouges.

Na only our leaders?. The truth is we are largely a bunch of untrustworthy people (leaders and followers). Leaders are picked from amongst the people.

Yes deporting the couple was right because if she has the audacity to say such in this country (which is largely true anyway), then Only God knows what she would do to a Nigerian in Greece.

However we must tell ourselves the truth , the brand nigeria is fast tuning a byword for falsehood both home and abroad.

Very silly couple, one would think been the ambassador and all they would have mastered the manner of approach. Mannerless people.

Sometimes diplomacy is not the way, better to tell it like it is