Firstly, foreign
policy is the strategic policy of a national into an international
environment. It is a long-term plan or
policy which we geared toward a common goal and then can be transferred into an
international states (Nworie, 2005, pg 1)
In the
international relations, dominant actors acted differently form each other even
if they are on the same international environment.
Moreover, this
actors are guided by the principles which make its possible to maintain a
definite pattern of behaviour in their relation
with one another.
Therefore,
foreign policy can be adopted by many
nation only for formulation of
actions to achieved an optimum goals and
objectives.
Then,
the question is what is the present foreign policy posture of Nigerian
politics? And the answer may be said to
be some how pathetic . This is because since 1960 , the foreign policy posture
of Nigeria have been centered on selfish inertest of the head of state not the public opinion .
Since, 1960 when
Nigeria becomes independent. Its foreign policy like some other countries has
witness success and as well failure.
As we all know
that, the nature of leadership is one of the major determinate in foreign
policy but leaders and the head of state, can not stand alone and formulate an
effective foreign policy of any nations, therefore before, he must carry some other state actors along for the effective foreign
policy formulations. Henceforth I may say that the current foreign
policy posture of Nigerian foreign policy is some how “challenging” for she has
not been able to formulate a policy that
will meet up the current and the modern day realities.
We have many
leaders since 1960, but let me use Obasanjo for a moment, why did he sent
ambassadorial nominees to the senate for
approval without giving the
citizens the opportunity to contributes
to the debates?
Why did he only decided on who to approved?
If he has a
second thought on the nature of foreign
policy of Nigeria in his mind, not his selfish desires. It is quickly observed that the
leaders were more concerned with
the internal political situation than the international politics.
The federal
characters are so bias in their dealing, and therefore neglect the content and
objectives of foreign policy in the present era..
Reuben Agbati gives an
interesting and comprehensive over views of Nigerians foreign policy since its
independence that Nigeria has been extra-ordinary naives by restricting its
foreign policy to Africa as its cornerstone. It was a laudable goal before the
1990’s but its evolution is needed for Nigeria to meet the need of today
diplomacy as we move into the next millemium.
African as a
centerpiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy no longer suffices a broader
perspectives its necessary. Although Nigeria has not got the means and might to
have a global policy, its should endeavour to take more into considerations the
current trend in international relations and diplomacy such as globalization,
human right and democracy”
My opinion
therefore is that long and successive dictatorship in Nigeria have used the African “corner stone” slogan
To lure
complaint like-minded African regimes to support their un- popular regimes.
This is the price Nigerian had to pay for the support of the dictatorial
African states.
Now, thank God,
we are in democracy we have to have freedom to speak our mind within and the
international community.
We need not
traced for any support from any
military dictators for limited gained
within Africa diplomatic circle African alone should not be of foreign policy
in Nigeria.