Nigeria’s outgoing ambassador to the US, Ade Adefuye, died suddenly in Washington on Thursday a week to the send-off party organised for him by the embassy staff.
There is yet no official confirmation of his passing, but the 68-year-old professor of history was said to look healthy up till his last moments and was looking forward to the send-off party after his tour of duty ended.
He served for five years as ambassador to the US and while President Muhammadu Buhari has already recalled ambassadors, Adefuye appeared to have enjoyed an extension because of the president’s visit to the US.
“He was regarded as the most active, most energetic, most passionate African ambassador in the US by American government officials. He always worked round the clock like a machine. He fought against every uncomplimentary impression of Nigeria,” a Nigerian journalist who used to cover his activities told TheCable.
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Adefuye reportedly suffered a seizure in his chauffeur-driven car and died before he could receive medical help.
Seizure can be caused by extremely high blood pressure or low blood sugar, and people with high blood pressure may not be aware of their condition expect they undergo checks.
Among other possible causes of seizure are: brain infection — such as meningitis — choking, kidney or liver failure and stroke.
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Adefuye, from Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun state, was Nigeria’s ambassador to Jamaica from 1987 to 1991 before he was appointed deputy high commissioner in the UK.
In 1969, he earned his first degree in history from the University of Ibadan.
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