By Efio-Ita Nyok |19 June 2015 |7:17am
The incumbent president of Nigeria, namely President Mohammadu Buhari was sworn into power on the auspicious day of 29 May 2015, that is to say, he is about 3 weeks in office. While it would be too early to pass judgements on the quality of his performance thus far, one cannot but say that the president has conducted himself creditably well as a public officer, with regards to the issue of security, the National Assembly principal officers election, and diplomatic relationship beyond the shores of the country, etc.
Another defining feature of Buhari's nascent democratic administration is the goodwill which his stint in office has invoked internationally: from the seminal publication on Nigeria by the influential Times magazine which contend that Nigeria is about one of the good thing to be happening to the world in recent times, to the face lift which the country enjoys in international fora courtesy of the personal integrity of Mr. President, to the rate of invitation/reception which Mr. President is getting from powerful and respected democracies across the world, etc; for instance the president just returned from the meeting of the G7 in Europe, where he was specifically invited by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel; the recent presidential invitation which he has gotten from the United States, United Kingdom and India. And most importantly, the invitation by the United Nations during their 70th anniversary celebration.
All these events are suggestive of the fact that the present administration is enjoying a sound take off. Albeit, there is nothing scientific that says the present administration may or may not land well. How I wish that it has a save landing at the expiration of its first tenure! However, it has become imperative to express some reservations, despite this enviable features. And my swipe will be basically on the supposed international reception and show of goodwill which Buhari's stint in government is basking in. I make bold to say that President Mohammadu Buhari should be wary of the show of goodwill which the capitals of the world, especially the West, are evincing.
It has become important to draw the attention of the public office holders to this fact. It is no gainsaying the fact that every diplomatic relationship has three latent realities imbedded in its fabric: economic, political and cultural interests. For instance, America's diplomatic ties with Nigeria has its economic, political and cultural dimensions. The same goes with the UK. To buttress this fact, we have often heard that Americans don't have a permanent friend nor enemy but permanent interests.
The question then becomes, what is the nature of America's and its allies' economic, political and cultural interests in Nigeria? This is the million dollar question! America may wish to improve on its economic/trade ties with Nigeria, and there is nothing wrong with this; nevertheless, to whose overall interest would this ties be -they or we? It's to the former, that is, America. And I am forward to demonstrate this in this article.
Students of international studies know that America deliberately initiate policies that ensure that trade activities move in a one way traffic in favour of America only. It has always been contended that the West remove these trade barriers in favour of their less powerful trading partner-countries. History reveals that she has never complied. They erroneously call it economic globalisation. But some critics have rather dubbed it economic Americanisation.
Politically, America perceives herself to being the (self-imposed) watchdog of the world so much so that she, more often than not, wish to determine political trends in other sovereign states, if not all. This disposition has caused it to being at loggerheads with very powerful European nations like Russia, Asian nations like China, Japan, etc. A case in point is the present war in Ukraine. Russia surreptitiously supports the insurgents on the premise that America should not determine political trends in her backyard. Again, the Vietnamese war was because China was not comfortable with the West's imperial activities in her perceived sphere of influence. All these interferences are what Western scholars will refer to as political globalisation. Some refer to it as political Americanisation.
Culturally, the West deems herself to be the leader of the world as such her 'way of doing things', that is, culture is superior to others. The cultures of other races are in essence inferior. It is in this context that the West and her Allies does think that homosexuality should be practiced world over. And they employ threats to send down the message. A practical case revolves around the diplomatic row that ensued between the US/UK and Nigeria in the presidency of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. When the National Assembly declined, both the US and UK said they would withdraw their financial grants. And they did! In my opinion, they extended this grudge to refusing to assist Nigeria in the fight against the insurgency in the Northeast. They refused to share intelligence or sell some important military hardwares, and this extended to frustrating the then administration in many ways. This led to its sacking in the just concluded elections.
The point I have been trying to make is that Buhari should not take for granted the fact that he is the newfound darling of the world especially the West. They have economic, political and cultural undertones that are not to the best interest of Nigerians. I would advice that Mr. President enter into these diplomatic relationships with the pre-consciousness of turning the fortunes in favour of his country. It's possible and it's worth it. If the president succeeds in this direction, they will be a diplomatic rift(s), if otherwise, they would always be friends to the detriment of his primary constituency and the risk of his party being sacked as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Finally, Mr. President should be wary of the West's probable inexplicable interest in Nigeria; for, they will basically be for economic, political and cultural interests to the deliberate disfavour of Nigeria. God bless this Nigeria 'and save her king'.