[Nigeria] Message to Norway

[Kuroko]

​	Secret and Encrypted​ To: Anthony Vinter, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway (@Odinson) From: Tom Ikimi, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Federation of Nigeria

Hello, My Friend, I am Chief Tom Ikimi, representing the newly opening Federation of Nigeria. I would like to personally extend my nation's request of further establishing relations and opening possible trade with your Kingdom. Particularly I am interested and humbled by the Royal Norwegian Navy, and would like to discuss, as odd as it may seem, potential joint exercises in the future. The modernization and great shift in Norwegian culture begins with humbling oneself and asking for help. Norway has been a great inspiration, one of select few. Firstly, however, I would like to discuss the purchase of trade ships you may have, in the hopes of using those very ships to trade with your nation in the future, if that is a possibility. My Thanks, Tom Ikimi Office of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs United Federation of Nigeria

 

[Odinson]

KINGDOM OF NORWAY
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
​

SUBJECT: Nigerian Diplomatic Interests
RECIPIENT: Chief Tom Ikimi, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs for the Federation of Nigeria (@Kuroko )
SENDER: Anthony Vinter, Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Kingdom of Norway
SECURITY: ENCRYPTED

Chief Ikimi,

His Majesty's Government is honored to have been contacted by the Federation of Nigeria. We have very few relations with nations on the African continent, which is a real shame. If you would like, I would be more than happy to discus these things, and possibly more, with you in person here in Oslo. It would be our honor to host you and a Nigerian delegation of your choosing. Please let me know if this would be acceptable.

Best Regards,

Anthony Vinter
Minister of Foreign Affairs

 

[Kuroko]

​	Secret and Encrypted​ To: Anthony Vinter, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway - @Odinson From: Tom Ikimi, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Federation of Nigeria

Mr. Vinter, I would be honored to attend in person. I will need to keep my visit short, but I would gladly come to Oslo at your earliest convenience. This would be more than acceptable, and I would like to ask perhaps where I should meet you, and if, in your opinion, I should meet your King. While Nigeria has no one head of state nor government, it would be possible for your King to come to Nigeria at a later date. Alas, quite possibly another thing to discuss in person. Shall I visit the Victoria Terrasse, or another spot you might prefer? My Thanks, Tom Ikimi Office of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs United Federation of Nigeria

 

[Odinson]

KINGDOM OF NORWAY
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
​

SUBJECT: Nigerian Diplomatic Interests
RECIPIENT: Chief Tom Ikimi, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs for the Federation of Nigeria (@Kuroko )
SENDER: Anthony Vinter, Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Kingdom of Norway
SECURITY: ENCRYPTED

Chief Ikimi,

I appreciate your proactive approach in discerning where we will meet in Oslo - it's often the occasion that foreign diplomats demand a meeting with me, or an audience with a higher official, and are not polite enough to ask such questions or make detailed considerations. Your question about meeting His Majesty King Oskar, however, slightly complicates things. His busy schedule, and His Majesty's reputation for last-minute affairs means that I cannot tell you the exact place of our meeting in Oslo, but I can guarantee you that at least you and I will be able to do so. I will contact the Lord Chamberlain and ask her if the King's schedule would permit the three of us to meet together.

That being said, I invite you to fly to Oslo's international airport in a day from now (if that works for you). From there, the Foreign Ministry will arrange transportation for you and those that you are travelling with to where we will be meeting - or whatever arrangements are made. As I said, it will be Norway's honor to host you and your delegation. I hope that these terms are acceptable. I will have the Foreign Ministry send further details for your travels here. I look forward to meeting you.

Best Regards,

Anthony Vinter
Minister of Foreign Affairs


::::::::::


As promised, the Foreign Ministry sent a secure message to the Nigerian Department of Foreign Affairs which ironed out the finer details of what exact times would be the best for Chief Ikimi and his delegation to arrive. The message included information on how they would travel to Oslo, by train, and smaller details such as that the Foreign Minister would be wearing a suit, but that the members of the Nigerian delegation would be welcome to wear whatever clothing they felt would be appropriate (be it more Western suits, or more native clothing). Other details, such as common social etiquette around the King, were provided in order to prevent the Nigerian delegation from making any social mistakes due to the difference in the country's culture. King Oskar, however, was known for being a kind and well-cultured person, so the likelihood of him taking offense was small in such a situation. There were of course also questions about if the Nigerians had any kind of objections to certain kinds of foods, and if they preferred tea or coffee.

Security details were also briefly mentioned. It was made clear that Nigerian security was welcome to come and be a part of the delegation, but that they would need to keep their weapons on board the aircraft which the Nigerian delegation arrived, and that the Royal Police Escort (or the King's Guard) would assume protection of the entire party if a meeting with the King was to be arranged. All of these finer details and notices were normal for nations who weren't members of the Nordic Council.

While it wouldn't be mentioned in the Foreign Ministry's message, the Foreign Minister himself was impressed by the fact that the Nigerians had taken note that the Royal Family, including the King, had been granted recognition by the Storting and the Foreign Ministry to act as diplomats. Even though such a meeting between a foreign diplomat and the King might not be approved, it was seen as a compliment to request it.

The Foreign Ministry concluded their message by thanking the Nigerian government for their request for a meeting, and that they looked forward to the event to occurring. When it came time for the Nigerians to arrive, air traffic control would safely guide their aircraft to Oslo's international airport. They were guided to one of the Eastern runways which were the only ones open to civilian traffic, since the others were being used by the Royal Norwegian Air Force in operations that were taking place in other parts of the world.

 

[Kuroko]

@Odinson

::::::::::

Times would be difficult for the Nigerians. After brutal coups had only recently been curbed and the government was still coming together, Chief Tom Ikimi was a busy man. It would take 24 days for the Nigerian politician to finally fly to Norway. As a Head of State and Government he had expected to be welcomed, but had found the polite detailing and the information provided to hi incredibly useful. Already familiar with His Royal Majesty Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I, he hoped his manners around the Norwegian King would suffice, were they to meet. While not uncomfortable in a suit, he did accessorize with a green tie and a matching beret, wide and decorated with a small plume. Something he would take off upon his arrival, of course, but he liked it, and that's all that really mattered to him as he looked to himself in the reflection of his plane's window.

Beside him sat Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, a 40 year old politician and major supporter of the new government. He was to be his assistant, with a gravely voice that spoke quietly of peace and inclusion. Even now he read from a political science textbook, quiet and reserved. Unlike Ikimi, he wore light, tanned robes, and a colorful aboki cap on his head. Ikimi lived in Edo, in the Oyo region; his parents were born there. He was a devout Roman Catholic. The man beside him was Hausa, a devout Muslim. Yet he saw that man as a brother, and he smiled as the plane began to land. The two other passengers with them were security, wearing deep green berets and sleek, grey dress uniforms decorated with a few colorful service ribbons. They were all dressed to impress, after all.

Ikimi stood, and Bande followed. He stepped down the stairs of the plane, squinting and smiling. The Norwegian Air Force was busy, he noticed, and the area in the airport was crowded with civilian planes, so much so that he felt rather guilty taking up some space. Still, he smiled and looked for the Norwegian delegation, waving to a few cameras, if there even were many. Ikimi hadn't expected much.