NIGERIA’s conspicuous non-inclusion in the proposed delegation from Africa seeking the resolution of the Russia/Ukraine conflict clearly illustrates the country’s dwindling relevance in global affairs. Beginning from independence through the 1970s Nigeria was a frontline African state whose views were well regarded in international affairs, but the country seems to have lost its voice and face in the international arena in the last 35 years.
Recently, the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa initiated a strategic move in a remarkable display of diplomatic collaboration to lead African leaders to both Moscow and Kiev to meet President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelensky respectively, to chart a path towards ending the war in Ukraine. Back in the day Nigeria used to reflect gold standard in foreign policy initiatives and was a poster boy of international relations. Other African countries took a cue from Nigeria. Today in that field, Nigeria is missing in action.
It is a sad commentary that Nigeria, which used to lead African countries in diplomatic missions and whose voice was well respected in global affairs, is missing in the list of six African countries whose leaders are working in the collaborative effort to broker peace agreement between the two warring European nations. The countries, whose leaders both Putin and Zelensky, have reportedly agreed to meet are South Africa, Zambia, Senegal, Republic of Congo, Uganda and Egypt.
Nigeria’s dwindling relevance in international affairs is becoming very discomfiting as this has affected not just diplomatic relations with other countries but the way citizens of the country are treated around the world. Africa used to be the centrepiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy, but today the country is no longer respected even within Africa as exemplified in the recent experience in Sudan and Egypt. Several times, Nigeria and Nigerians have been the butt of humiliating experiences in South Africa, a country Nigeria led, as a frontline state, out of apartheid enslavement.
The country’s lacklustre image abroad is reflective of the degeneracy which it suffers internally. Almost everything that is associated with greatness has been thoroughly diminished by bigotry, corruption and mindless impunity. The quality of leadership has been sullied by primordial considerations, reducing the country to a lackey of ethnicity and religion. The disappearance of morality and abandonment of excellence as determining factors for leadership recruitment has thrown up entities that have diminished governance and elevated mediocrity.
We only remember with nostalgia the days when seasoned men and women with integrity and great confidence represented the country in all spheres of endeavour and garnered respect and awe for the country because of their moral and intellectual dispositions: people who could stand shoulder to shoulder with their counterparts anywhere in the world, representing a country with sound foreign policies and backed by strong leadership at home. The country was not only respected but feared, even by powerful countries of the west. Those days are long gone and we are left with representatives, both internal and external, who believe that the centrepiece of our foreign policy is whatever the President says it is. Those who carry the image of the country abroad do not know the centrepiece of their country’s foreign policy because a clearly defined policy is non-existent in the first place. The deterioration has gone on for too long, it did not start yesterday but it is not getting better. It is redeemable, nonetheless.
As a new administration takes over the reins of leadership, it would do well to redeem the sagging image of the country and bring back the good old days by selecting and deploying men and women of excellence, integrity and panache to man its strategic affairs, especially those who have the responsibility of managing the image and perception of the country, both at home and abroad. This country needs people with sound intellect, clear vision and focused wisdom; people who know and understand the essence of leadership and who know what reputation and foreign policy is all about. When a solid foundation is laid, confidence would definitely return and with it, integrity and respect.
In selecting those to man strategic offices, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must jettison the old ways and go for those with names that command respect, have relevant experience and carry no moral baggage. Nigeria has enough men and women who fit this bill; they should be sought out and recruited irrespective of partisan affiliation, ethnicity or creed. The image and integrity of the country must tower above these primitive and sentimental considerations. It is obvious that we hardly ever use our first eleven. We have some of the most brilliant people working everywhere around the globe, but we hardly use them. The new administration must not continue in the path of its immediate predecessors who played politics with everything and lost everything to irresponsible politicking.
Nigerians are quick to point accusing fingers at the leadership for the country’s predicaments, but they are also complicit in some ways. Morals and values are no longer prime factors for leadership consideration. There is definitely the issue of value judgement and the leadership crisis cannot be taken in isolation. Leadership grows from the followership; and complacency of the followers gives impetus to the impunity of the leaders. The recruitment process leaves room for incompetent leadership and those who eventually emerge are not given the type of close marking that would force them to stay in line. Some play hypocritical roles and pander to whatever the political leaders say, while some go sentimental and play to the gallery.
The leaders are therefore let loose to unleash their tendencies on the system; while the people and the country become the eventual casualties. The media is not exonerated in this wise. They have been sucked into the divisive tendencies of the system such that truth now becomes subjective and facts are twisted to suit parochial sentiments. It ought not so to be! Nigerians should endeavour to speak the truth on matters of great national relevance and not pander to sentiments. Those in leadership should be told that the country has to get back on the right track with competent and purposeful drivers, not with politicians with vested interests.
The National Assembly must be ready to play its constitutional role and insist on having fit and proper persons to man the machinery of government at the cabinet level. To start with, both the people and their representatives in the parliament must insist that the list of appointees to the cabinet must always be accompanied by portfolios. The evaluation process should be carried out purely on the basis of the fit and competence of each appointee to the designated office. That way cronyism can be checked ab initio. This is the gold standard and international best practice in governance.
The President must be prepared to provide essential leadership and must support those given responsibilities to enable them discharge assigned roles with integrity. No representative can perform remarkably well abroad if the right impetus does not come from home. Government must put its house in order and garner the respect of the home-front before expecting excellence from outside. It is unlikely that anyone would respect or listen to representatives from fractured domains.
We commend worthy Nigerians who have continued to show shining examples in international organizations where they serve; the likes of Amina Mohammed at the United Nations, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala at the World Trade Organization, Akinwumi Adesina at the African Development Bank and Umar Farouk Ibrahim at the African Petroleum Producers Organization, among others. We urge them to within responsible limits let their country have a feel of what they are doing in their respective organizations.
We must re-emphasise the point that for Nigeria to be accorded the kind of respect it desires abroad, it must first of all put its own house in order. Nothing reasonable can be done outside if the home-front is in turmoil. The foundation has to be solid with strong leadership, vibrant economy, strategic and focused foreign policy and sound image to attract respect and recognition. We cannot be respected abroad when we do not respect our leaders at home. Our leaders cannot be respected at home if they emerge from a faulty recruitment process and are not accountable to the people.
The integrity of the country’s pillars is still strong, but we have to put in place the fundamental fittings, including good governance and responsible citizenship, to make the entire structure conducive. We must first of all put our house in order. And the new government in the saddle has a responsibility to kick-start the process of getting Nigeria back to relevance and returning it to the league of globally respected nations. It must begin with the appointment of persons with exceptional capacity, competences and integrity. Nigeria must have a strong voice in the world and only competent persons with integrity and good home background can be heard.
