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.
NIGERIA SHOULD NOT BUILT
Nigeria should not built their foreign policy on one
pillar but emulate such actors like American, Great Britain, France, if she
will play the role in the current level
of diplomatic circle.
Although, everyone knows that, the internal political
event also contributes immensely to the impact on foreign policy. Therefore
Nigeria should not be an expectation. For ability to executes good and
mind-blowing policy internally, must surely attract foreign actors and the
focus most turn for Nigerian as an international state not a domestic figure.
In another angle¸ democracy has come to stay not only
in Africa but in the whole world. Therefore Nigeria should not even think or do
any thing that will drag them back to
military regime. Even though Nigerian military and their regimes was not doing well in the development of the internal
political policy. Through their coup-detate were not the solution to the
internal political procession in Nigerian.
Henceforth, Nigerian should think how to engage in the
culture of political dialogue and debates between opponents so that Nigeria
could move to the task ahead of her.
This political dialogue and debate should be seen as a
principle mechanism for the resolution of crisis situation in Nigerian
Political issues for her to move on.
By this, to offer solution to the problems of Nigerian
political issues, the international community would therefore understand that
Nigerians are now matured people worthy a respectable place within the community of nations.
More of this, the Babangida’s regimes from
27 August 1985- August 1993 was
all through a left hand blow to the Nigerians
image abroad and its foreign policy in particular. These was a huge financial west and failure,
the abused of human right, the annulement of June 12, 1993 election etc at
that time when every country in particular
the “G7” and the
most of QIECD countries
It is worthy of mention, here that, it worth nothing
since the famous L.A bank speech by president mitterrand of France in 1983,
democracy became a determining factor in
relation between France and developing countries in particular, therefore, it is believed that
the problem of Nigerian foreign policy
started where Ibrahim Babangida. Refused to tender applology to the
international community on the activities during his regime. Therefore, give
wrong repression in the mind of international actors about Nigerian in general.
After-math, was nothing to write home about, that
happen to be the beginning Nigerian mis-understanding with international
community. The traditional government headed by Sir Ernest Shenekan was some
how to ap-peace the
international environment but when Gen. Seni Abacha drag him out of office and
took over his beat without any agenda on how to improve relations between
Nigeria and the international community.
Therefore coup detate
worsen the international image of Nigeria. Gen. Sani Abacha embarked upon self
aggrandizing effort that almost led Nigerian to the brink of war because of
flagrant human right abuses any military regimes had ever committed since
independent. Nigeria became a patriarch state only for compliant African countries
rely on. The question is how can Nigeria be called the “Giant of Africa”? When she cannot even stand well for herself
not to be counted among the G7, what then make them Giant? It was at this time
a diplomatic advice would have been so much of interest to Nigeria as a nation,
but non-was given a chance. But instead
a selected delegation of incredible, through famous Nigerians was sent
to explain “Unexplainable” to the
international community in Europe but it was a failure. Nigeria foreign policy
was very crudely mishandle “Nigeria is a
like a country without foreign minister and foreign policy during this
period” Abati (1987, pg 9).
No one should be blamed for the
absence of foreign policy of a nation
but there is every need for the explanation
why there is no effective foreign policy and its adviser to the nation
The question of
‘Tug -of –war’ during Abacha regimes was against the international
community not minding the devastating effect on the human right e.g the hanging of 9 Ogoni indigence: Does it
mean that there were no government agents or officials whom might have
made that regimes to shift from the horrible decision to hang
the Ogoni activists until the end of the
common wealth summit.
The summary therefore, is that Nigeria lack and
under-rated the importance of internal policy including democratic reformed and
a place of human right in international
relation and diplomacy
Nigerian diplomacy was grounded, for there was no
ambassadorial nominees, no diplomate posted outside Nigeria therefore blind
folded the mind set of Nigerians in the international field. One may be
reminded that, the present government re-call all ambassadors and replace them
with new ones. This was because the past
ambassadors was not duly represented the policy of the present realities in the
international communities to correspond with the motives and intention of the
internal policies of the nation to the
international state.
As Nigerian officials and her diplomats began to
developed effort toward the international environment, but their effort was
turn down for they maintained absolute definition of national sovereignty.
The present democratic world has grown in such away
that the president or the alikes
can not site down and manipulates its country as a family assets without the
intervention and the
reaction from the international
communities.
Henceforth, democracy and human right has becomes
a law and character of : international relation and the
determinant in foreign policy.
It
is necessary to call for image building
between the Nigerian
government, diplomats and the Nigerians
in Diaspora.
It was astonished to observes when the Nigerian diplomats and ministry of
information cannot formulate a message
destined for international consumption
press campaign in February 1994. The inability of Nigerian officials to explain the decision to the
international public led to the
deteriorated Nigerian image abroad, the
effect therefore are deep-rooted and years will be required to correct the
image of Nigerians in the international community.
Therefore, the
present foreign policy posture of Nigerian politics can only be seen as a
hectic task and the choice of competence officials and actors
is very essentials.
The foreign policy actors are both the internal and
external actors combining together to reach a common goal/s to the foreign
ministry. Although, it is primarily
foreign ministry affairs, the
internal actors like (1) President (2) Foreign minister, Ambassadors and embassies
abroad
The role of
embassies should be re-defined and the dynamics and performance oriented foreign policy makers should leave no room for amateurism like in the past.
Our ambassadors and embassies should sit up and live
up to national expectation Nigerian foreign policy must produced result for the
country and also its citizens. There must
be training and retraining
programme of diplomats to give
them the necessary knowledge to practice
the art and science of diplomacy for they are at the front
line of Nigerian foreign policy. Our vital national interest have to
be redefined. We must revive and re-enforce economic diplomacy in the country.
In regarding important sensitive; the international
policy issues must have effect on our foreign policy, a decision –making forum
comprising all sector beginning from presidential advisers, officials form
ministries of foreign affairs, defence internal affairs etc
should meet to discourse and access them with a view of defining a coherent policy. Expert opinion from the
relevant institution is also essential if Nigeria had to make a positive
foreign policy.
Finally if the above question are answered and followed
these measures I think the present Nigerian foreign policy will
not only be the best but she will be counted
among the generals in the world. For the fictional a ‘Giant of Africa”
has remain the dream name for Nigeria which is yet to come to reality, therefore we should not be with this
fictional image ie ‘Giant of Africa a image and watch other African diplomatic giant growing taller than our own the mother of African. For example South Africa and Egypt
work hard to get their name written in gold and maintained their place within
the international
environment.
Therefore Nigeria should look up to the following
objectives
i.
She should no
longer limits her scope of foreign policy to continental Africa affairs.
ii.
She should
focused world wide and geared toward the promotion of our cultural heritage and
scientific, economic and technical cooperation
with viable partners.
iii.
Its goals
should aims at enhancing the
national development and military arrangement
with NATO countries in order to give peace a permanent character in the
society and our sub-region.
iv.
Its should aim at creating a benefit for the
betterment of the people
v.
The commission
must be set up comprising of diplomats university professors and politicians to
review and foreign policy setup and objectives
and to redefined the vital national interest.
vi.
Its mandate
should be short and precise
vii.
Its foreign
policy should encompasses a clear opinion strategy on major international
issues such as the reform of the united nation bilateral relations between
Nigeria and the member of the European unions.
The
Guardian Newspaper (29/8/1991)
Editorial
(6/9/99, EN/5950//TM)
Comment:
Relating to the Attitudes of Nigerian Authority Bolaji Ogunseye and Bayo
Defence
of Career Diplomate :
Bolaji and Layo;( Pg 19,) Longman
P.M New (25/8/1999) Lagos
This
Day (8/8/1999 Pg10)
I
Will Surprise my Critics Lamido: (2000)
The
Challenges Felony Nigerian Foreign Policy in the Next Millennium 3 Okpoke E: (1999 Pg 4) Oxford
Liberalism
Capital Flows : Pierre Poret.
Lesson
from Asia: The OECD: (1998 Pg 39 and 40)
Vanguard
(18/8/1998)