In what appeared as an unprecedented historic visit on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, some prominent traditional royal fathers of Ijaw extraction from Delta, Ondo, Edo and Bayelsa states in the Niger Delta region, who were on vacation in France, met at the Nigerian embassy in Paris to commiserate with the Deputy Head of Mission, Amb. Tunde Mustapha, over the loss of the late Amb. Kayode Laro, who died on Friday, August 11, 2023, after a protracted illness.

Among the royal fathers are HRM Oboro Gbaraun II (JP), Aketekpe, Agadagba, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta; HIM Pere (Barr.) Zacchaeus Doubra Egbunu (JP), Opukutu III, the Pere of Arogbo-Ibe Kingdom in Ondo; HRM Egbesuwei Gbanraun X, Agadagba, the Pere of Gbanraun Kingdom in Bayelsa; HRM King Godwin Ogunyinbo, Alagbabunafa III, the Pere of Olodiama Kingdom in Edo; and the mighty Diamond, HRM Pere Gbebokedi Ajirioba, Oguruyeke, Okrimini, the Pere of Tubutoru Kingdom, Ondo State.

Even though the Nigerian embassy was still in a lull over the loss of Amb. Laro, the Nigerian representative at the embassy nonetheless could not hold his joy while welcoming the royal fathers.

In his brief welcome address to his royal guests in the embassy, Amb. Mustapha said: "Thank you very much your highnesses and the queens. I am highly delighted to have you in the Nigerian House in Paris today.

"May I express our appreciation on behalf of the embassy and also on behalf of the federal government of Nigeria whom we are representing here, that you deem it fit to come here and condole us in the embassy and condole Nigeria…

"As you are commiserating with us here you are actually doing it to the federal government of Nigeria. I thank you very much and I salute you for visiting us," he added.

Earlier, speaking on behalf of the royal fathers who were accompanied by their spouses and other chiefs, the Pere of Arogbo Ibe Kingdom, who intimated the Head of Mission that they were in France for a vacation, expresses their sympathies to him and the embassy staff over the sudden demise of Amb. Laro and prayed that such tragedy is not experienced again at the Nigerian Embassy.

His Majesty said, "In view of the fact that we heard the death of late Amb. Ibrahim Kayode Laro, it will be unwise of us as traditional rulers of the Niger Delta to be in this city of Paris without coming to pay our commiseration and sympathize with you; that’s the purpose of our visit.

"We are very sorry and our only prayer is that he finds a place in the Bosom of his Creator. We pray that God will give the entire embassy of France the Spirit to bear this great loss, Amen,” Pere Egbunu prayed.

In his response, the Head of Mission, while speaking of the late Amb. Laro, described the late diplomat as an hardworking representative and that despite his short stay of two years he did a lot for the Nigerian community in France.

"Ambassador Laro served in Paris for two years and during his stay, he was very active in the Nigerian community here. He visited so many regions in France, meeting with the Nigerian communities, actually taking the services of the embassy (services in form of those people who want to obtain passports, consular requests) to them. Instead of sitting down in Paris he travels to deliver to them," he said.

The condolence visit was wrapped up by the signing of the Condolence Register and a prayer from the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom on behalf of the royal fathers for the Nigerian embassy.

Amb. Laro, who hails from Kwara State and had served as a Nigerian diplomat and the Consul General in Atlanta Consulate, United States, was appointed by president Muhammadu Buhari in July 2020 and assigned to France where he assumed duty on May 15, 2021 as the Nigerian Ambassador in overseeing Nigeria’s interests and in maintaining diplomatic relations between Nigeria and France. He was finally laid to rest on Wednesday, August 16, 2023.

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