Juan Sell: A long goodbye to Spain’s matchless ambassador, By Owei Lakemfa

The unforgettable Clara Margarita Pulido-Escandell, the then Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, on Friday, 10 June, 2022 held a welcome lunch for the new Mexican Ambassador Alfredo Miranda. It was not surprising for she was like a mother hen watching over fellow ambassadors.

At the occasion, I had an animated discussion with Pulido’s Deputy, Pavel Bauza and another diplomat. Later, it occurred to me I had not asked who this diplomat was. I turned to Pavel, and he said that was the Spanish Ambassador.

I was a bit surprised because our discussions which covered a number of contemporary international issues had been quite frank and we had agreed on most issues. I had not expected that the ambassador of a leading Western country could be so open and, in my opinion, fair minded. He had not tried to put up excuses, but rather, seemed interested in a fair and equitable world where humans could live in peace. I later learnt his name, Juan Ignacio Sell Sanz.

At that time I was…