THURSDAY COLUMN BY SAFIYA ADAMU
yandokye@gmail.com
May be the question should be do we have a defined international relations policy? May be better put it should be do we have a national interest that defines our international relations? Whichever way we put it evidence before us right now giving what we are witnessing the questions call for thorough interrogation. A necessary debate that may really just answer so many other questions in nation building and self-actualization.
That vote against Russia in respect of her war with Ukraine is to say the least poor ‘sportsmanship’ in diplomacy. Talking of diplomacy we have definitely gone off tangent, lost direction and crumbled building principles that make nations great or stand out amongst peers. Nigeria’s diplomatic principles on her strong support for every people’s right to freedom and self –determination was instrumental to her acquisition of that title “giant of Africa”. Nigeria stood tall and commanding amongst its peers, fearless, bold, and resolute, she took on the cloak of Africa leadership and she wore it proudly. Our diplomacy was no nonsense, and it was clear that this young country will not be dictated to by those super powers whose only interest was, has been, and its still all about themselves and their survival. On January 11th 1976, the then Nigerian Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed delivered one of the most powerful speech and message to fellow African leaders and the rest of the world declaring unequivocally that Africa has come of age, that Africa will no longer be dictated to by non-Africans on matters that concerned Africa and liberation of African States. Other African states fell in line, defied the United States and Europe and recognized the independence of fellow African nations, Angola in particular.
This famous speech delivered at the 1st extraordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Governments since the founding of the Organization of Africa Unity (OAU) 12 years earlier was considered then and even now as the most revolutionary and powerful speech by any African leader. That speech was in response to the letter or rather “circular” by then United States President Gerald Ford to Nigeria and other African Nations demanding that the OAU insist on the Soviet Union withdrawing her support for the MPLA led Angola government and leaving Angola to the rampage of then apartheid South Africa while the USA itself openly and covertly side with Apartheid South Africa against any African self –determination. The Nigerian Military Government even acted unprecedented by any government by releasing the letter to the press. This and the speech defined and charted Nigeria’s diplomatic course or so we thought over the years until Presidents Jonathan and now Buhari happened on us. Nigeria was at the forefront of the quests and fight for independence by African and non-African nations desiring independence, freedom, and self-determination. Nigeria was consistent and firm in voting, defense of the right to self-determination and supported all people across the globe seeking independence. The presence of Brigadier Joe Garba external with his towering height closer to seven foot than six feet in any diplomatic conference simply conveyed what and where Nigeria stood. As the Minister for external Affairs and later Nigeria’s Representative at the United Nations he was a presence that enjoyed the backing of his home government. So what happened? Other Nations looked up to us not necessarily because we were large with a promising economy but because we were bold, brave and consistent in pursuing and protecting Nigeria’s interests in particular, and interests of the African continent as a whole. Now all we are witnessing are diplomatic policy flip-flops, inconsistencies and array of diplomats with no idea or inkling of what constitutes national interests and national dignity.
December 2014 was the first obvious indication of our diplomatic policy inconsistencies, it was the day Nigeria betrayed her international relations standing and took a bow at the alter of flimsy sentiments and lack of depth in diplomatic relations. In bewilderment we wonder what our new foreign policy is or would be or if there is going to be any at all. Now we know. Nigeria went on to solidify its position as a nation with no clear-cut diplomatic relations policy by voting against Russia. No doubt Russia attacked a sovereign nation, but what prompted this action? NATO is as guilty if not more in this regard. NATO is directly responsible for this tragedy and must take the blame for it. Anyway whether Nigeria voted for or against what remains a fact is that the United States and indeed NATO will continue to emasculate and undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty directly or covertly. They will continue to hide under the guise of human rights abuses and Amnesty international to stop you from taking decisive action against forces that threaten your territorial integrity. Your bandits or terrorists or kidnappers will continue to have access to weapons they refuse to sell to you while threatening you with sanctions because they have defined your self-defense as crimes against humanity. Well I salute those African countries that were bold enough to voted against NATO and the United States, I even salute those that abstained. They collectively did better than the “GIANT” of Africa.
Nigeria once more has sided with its” enemies”, those who have nothing to offer it but deceit and exploitation. Voting along side NATO nations and the USA is as good as voting for your noose. NATO will go after your jugular if anyone of them thinks that you deserve to be obliterated. No doubt Russia attacked a sovereign nation called Ukraine, but pray what makes that attack any different from what NATO has been doing and will continue to do? Do not think I’m justifying Russia’s actions here, however facts are facts and we all supposedly have brains. Have we asked ourselves what exactly Gaddafi did wrong for example? But NATO with all its firepower went after him, destroyed that country, and plunged it into chaos. Today? All we can say is “ once upon a time there was a country called Libya”. Let’s go to Afghanistan, do we dare go to Iraq? Egypt? Syria? So why do you think you will be spared at any given opportunity. Has Africa come of age? NO! Has Nigeria come of age? Apparently we have not. Diplomatic yo-yo is no diplomacy; we need to rethink our foreign relations and affairs.
