Budapest, has died following a car crash in Nigeria, but one of his sons said Wednesday, December 21, that "foul play" was suspected.
"There are just to many suspicious circumstances," said Longben Guyit, the eldest son of Ambassador Gershon Jeremiah Guyit, who was 56, in an interview with BosNewsLife in Budapest. He said his father’s car, which carried three passengers, crashed on the way from the town of Jos to the airport in the capital Abuja late Monday, December 19.
"My father even managed to make a call to his office saying he was fine. He was brought to two rural hospitals but they were poorly equipped. They said he had a broken leg and a broken arm but that they could not help him. So it is strange he died. They drove him to Abuja for medical treatment, but on his way he complained of breathing problems and called my uncle. That was his last call."
He said the area was known for violence and attacks and that the family was not ruling out foul play. There have been a lot of attacks against Christians, including leaders, in Nigeria by Muslim militants and others. An investigation into the circumstances of the crash was believed to be ongoing Wednesday, December 21.
ACTIVE CHRISTIAN
Ambassador Guyit, who also represented Nigeria in Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina,
since his arrival in Budapest in June 2004, was an active member of the International Church of Budapest (ICB), an English language inter-denominational congregation.
"His wife, Ruth was devastated. She was given a sedative to sleep," said ICB Pastor Glenn Ford.
He said she and another son, Desmond, were on their way to Abuja. Ford added he had urged believers of the church to pray.
"There is never a good time to face the death of a loved one, but especially this time of year. I’m sure they would appreciate prayer support. Ruth suddenly has a very different life, with an immense amount of uncertainty and change," he told BosNewsLife.
Longben Guyit confirmed to BosNewsLife that his father was a devout Christian who he said had tried to help many people in the impoverished and often volatile nation. "In his last phone call with my uncle he prayed for everyone of the family and even apologized that he was not able to take the plane to visit us. Just before he died he wrote in his daily devotional next to his Bible: ‘I am not alone because my Father is with me.’"
SHOWING FAITH
Back in Nigeria, "the people also called him father, as he was always there to help others and show his faith," Longben added.
"At times he gave up his salary as a civil servant to share with others who did not have anything. My family knows that his death is just the beginning. I am only sad he will not be able to see his first grandchild my wife is expecting. That has to wait till we meet in heaven."
The ambassador will be buried in Nigeria by the middle of next week, he said. Ambassador Guyit leaves behind his wife Ruth Ngbakili and their five sons. Ironically the Nigerian Embassy in Budapest is located at Arvacska street, the Hungarian word for "little orphan."
