Ebenezer M. Oyetakin
It was an invitation to present my paper titled; “Dialogue Among Civilizations From The Viewpoints of Young People; The Necessities.It was during the reign of President Khatami and this was in the month of October 2002 . International paper Presenters were invited across the world from Colombia University in the USA and other Universities from China, Egypt, Philippine, Europe, South America, Russia and Others.
While leaving Nigeria for Iran, I had mixed feelings about how safe Iran is for me? When I missed my first flight to depart Lagos to UAE en route to Iran, something told me this is a bad sign warning me not to proceed to the Land of the Ayatollahs. I had a misgivings tucked in my soul by the Western Press I was accustomed to their news that as soon as I arrived at Iran International Airport,my freedom and human dignity will be taken away and I will have to comport or conform to the ethics of the iron clad Ayatollahs country to survive my few days in Iran. I proceeded with the next available flight anyway arriving at UAE almost missing my connecting flight to Iran again, but thank goodness I was with my file containing my paper for presentation on my hand bag, so I disembark from the Ethiopian airlines and headed straight to the almost departing Iran Air without taking my main luggage.
Arriving at the Iranian Airport I saw a single black man apart from me walking towards me.He was the Nigerian Ambassador and with him were Conference Organizers. Your Excellency Good day I said as he introduced himself “I didn’t inform the foreign affairs I was coming to Iran how come you are here for me? ” He replied ” The Conference Organizers will not allow me to rest concerning you; they said your paper is the best and most technical paper received for this International conference.Therefore when they heard that you missed your flight they were worried. Please demand that Nigerian National Anthem is played before you present your paper he concluded while driving with me in Nigeria’s car to my Hotel while conference organizers followed closely to the Hotel.
After presenting my seven and half page papers, it was a thunderous ovation that led to massive television interviews thereafter and i became so popular amongst paper Presenters. I travel to some universities and interact with some students and lecturers to get public views of the realities of Iran. I also engaged with common people on the streets. I attended Sunday church Service all in order to get my own independent perspective of the Iranian Nation. In many restaurants and Hotels bars and eatery I met Americans, European and others and we shared pleasantries and I curiously questioned their excitement and joyful presence in Iran Irrespective of their media paintings of Iran as no go place. They were like don’t mind those!
I then demanded from the Conference Organizers that I want to meet the Grand Ayatollah Ali Syed Kharmeini. They told me it will be difficult but they will try. They asked me to put my request in writing and I did write and include other paper Presenters as my team.To cut long story short, my request was granted and I led others to meet the Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Syed Ali Kharmeini, it was for me an eternally cherished privilege.
While addressing him on behalf of the team, I told him about my fear and thought that I was coming to an iron clad Cotton of a nation called the Islamic Republic of Iran where my freedom will be taken away from the moment I touched ground at the airport. I informed him that my team members also shared the same fear. However, being here for more than a week now we know better. I then called on him to establish a strong Press and information mechanism that can project Iran and tell her real stories away from Western propaganda.
This is the story of how I was delivered from the falsification of the realities about the Great Iranian Nation.
– Hon. Ebenezer M. Oyetakin, Political Sensitization Desk – International Affairs Table.
