By Christiana Ekpa
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila,
Wednesday said that Nigeria, Africa and the World is currently being confronted by challenges that affect everyone and a global response is the best way to ensure collective survival of all.
Gbajabiamila said international collaboration is necessary to find solutions that will improve the lives and circumstances of people all over the world caused by issues ranging from
public health to terrorism and the myriad difficulties of globalisation.
He spoke at the public presentation of the book tilted: “Reflections on Nigeria’s Foreign Policy 1960–2020”, co-authored by Toby Okechukwu, Deputy Minority Leader of the House in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Speaker said from experience, Nigeria’s foreign policy must ‘unapologetically’ define the terms on which it engage the rest of the world to address the different manifestations of her shared challenges.
“Our nation’s foreign policy defines the terms on which we engage with the rest of the world. It is through our foreign policy that we declare who we are, what we stand for, and the principles we hold dear and will defend as we have done here at home and abroad in South Africa, Liberia, Sierra Leone and every where else we have been called.
“Hon Toby Okechukwu and his co-authors, Messrs Tony Onyishi and Emmanuel Ukhami have, in the best tradition of statesmen, undertaken a comprehensive and scholarly review of the foreign policy of Nigeria from independence to date.
“They have used the instruments of research and data analysis to help us understand how our foreign policy has evolved over the years and how foreign policy decisions have both hindered and advanced the cause of Nigeria on the global stage,” he said.
Aminu Wali, Former Foreign Affairs Minister who was Chairman of the occasion said Nigeria deserves permanent membership of United Nations Security than any country in Africa but has not been able to achieve that because of lack continental cooperation.
He observed that while Nigeria may have a policy that is Afrocentric but at the same time “we are not getting the same respect that we give our neighbors and colleagues in Africa because we have suffered to ensure that there is peace and security inmany of parts of Africa.
“Because foreign policy is basically trying to be nationalistic. As far as I am concerned, our foreign policy must be inward looking because whatever we do we try to get the best out of any given situation, both internally and externally.
In his remarks, Okechukwu noted that Nigeria’s afrocentric commitment is not adequately reciprocated by her African counterparts, saying the nagging issue of the country’s shrinking voice in critical diplomatic circles may also be appreciated vis-à-vis contemporary socio-economic challenges at home.
“But then a robust tradition of diplomatic engagement will not only ameliorate this but would also garner a reasonable level of image prestige. Again, this speaks to the integrity of institutions and their ability to withstand pressure.
“The country must make all efforts to industrialize, keep pace with the present global technological innovations, genuinely democratize by permitting her citizens the fundamental human rights they desire and strive to enjoy. Nigeria will only achieve these feats if her leadership is focused on achieving national interest and not self-centered interest based on ethno-religious identities and partisanship. This is why the nation must also institutionalize her core national values, philosophy and culture that will act as a compass for good leadership.
