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Is the US a Friend of Nigeria? By Elie Smith
Late General Charles De Gaulle, France’s leader from 1940 – 1968 is known to have said that; “friendships are not constant, only interest are”. France has applied this with Nigeria on several occasions.
When Nigeria stood up against France’s test of its nuclear bombs in the south of Algeria, France was vexed. And showed it immediately, when Nigeria’s civil war started, it stood by the Biafran secessionists’ forces of Colonel Ojukwu.
Contrary to what some French propagandists may want the world to think as reason behind their support granted the short live Biafran Republic, it was done as retribution for Nigeria’s call for the end of nuclear test in the Algerian Sahara desert. Apart from giving it moral support to the Biafrans, France asked some of its former African colonies to support Biafra, and those who answered the call were Gabon and Ivory Coast.
Interestingly Ahmadou Ahidjo, Cameroon’s president at the time had all interest to support the call made by De Gaulle. This was because, France was supporting his regime to quell the rebellion of the UPC* in French-speaking Cameroon. Instead, Ahidjo took an audacious decision to back the Federal government of General Jack Yakubu Gowon.
It is claimed in some quarters that, the bold decision of Ahidjo was greatly appreciated by General Gowon. Hence, he decided to cede the now disputed Bakassi territory to Cameroon. In addition, the officilisation of the deal was signed in the town of Maroua, provincial capital of the Far North province of Cameroon. Concerning the Nigerian civil war, it might have ended some 35 years ago, but, it is still creating remorse in the hearts of some minor and major actors.
France’s bumpy relations with Nigeria
One of them is Albert Bernard Bongo Odimba, President of the Republic of Gabon who has since expressed his profound regrets for having supported the Biafra (1). In keeping with the logic of General De Gaulle, France showed its teeth to Nigeria again when the latter decided not only to bankroll a regional peace keeping operation initiated under the banner of ECOMOG*, but took the leadership.
France’s reaction was motivated by its fear that Nigeria’s influence in Liberia and Sierra Leon could eventually spill over into its former colonies in the region. In spite those instances, France’s relationship with Nigeria has been cordiale, as demonstrated by its investing more in Nigeria than in all French-speaking African countries put together.
In the territorial dispute over the ownership of the Bakassi peninsular, France seem to have stock to the logic of its hero, General De Gaulle, by standing on the side of Nigeria (2).
So it seems. However, if the assertion is correct, then France’s support for Nigeria might have been done at the expense of Cameroon. Nevertheless a thorough examination of fact on the ground reveals a subtle support for Nigeria while at the same time Paris was mounting pressures on Abuja and Yaoundé to stick to a negotiated settlement. This might have been interpreted as tacit support for Nigeria from Yaoundé, but it is not exactly that way. The behaviour of Paris officially has irritated some hawkish individuals within power circles in Yaoundé, who mindful of their incapacity to defeat Nigeria military, wanted France to support them to achieve a military.
It has to be pointed out though that, while France has called for a negotiated settlement, it has nonetheless still honoured the defence pact, linking it with its former colonies by sending military experts to Yaoundé. Moreover, it also dispatched soldiers on the disputed territory to back up Cameroonian Armed Forces on the ground.
US & Nigeria’s ambiguous relationships
But where does the US stand in its relationship with Nigeria and on the conflict with Cameroon over Bakassi? To say the least, the US has been oscillating emotions and its vital interests in its rapport with Nigeria, so it may appear. Nonetheless, a thick fog seems to have fallen over the Nigerian US relationship, when on the 16th of February 2006, Jendayi Frazer, US under secretary for African affairs inaugurated in Yaoundé, Cameroon, a new $ 50 US embassy building.
Besides, the inauguration followed the signing of Open skies treaty between Cameroon and the US and there are also plans to open new USAID offices in Yaoundé to cover and coordinate activities in the sub region. According to Cameroonian papers that expressed for ones views of majority of the people, it was a great day for both Countries.
Meanwhile, the state owned Cameroon Tribune and the privately owned The Post Newspapers of that day reported that, the US ambassador to Cameroon said; the US was in Cameroon to stay. Whatever that means remains to the author of the alleged phrase to clarify things.
Furthermore and contrary to France, the US has openly declared that, they are on the side of Cameroon in the territorial dispute with Nigeria over Bakassi (3). This is a clear proof that the US has chosen Cameroon over Nigeria. Secondly, Nigeria’s National Flag carrier, Virgin Nigeria has for some time now been labouring to obtain permission to fly directly to the US, yet several hurdles have been erected by US aviation authorities. Strangely, the opportunity has been offered to Cameroon that has little or no interest in operating direct flights from it shores to the US.
Waving the flag of instability
Has the US any founded reason to play the Judas with Nigeria? Yes, it may appear to some strategists in Washington DC. Those who hold this school of thought, points to the apparent instabilities witnessed in Nigeria, especially the recurrent hostage takings and crisis taking place in the Niger Delta.
On the other had, Cameroon their new friend in region deserves to get some scrutiny. And the questions on the lips of those who thought Nigeria could count on the US are many questions. One of them could be; is Cameroon more stable than Nigeria? Yes, the proponents for alternative partners in the region would advance.
But there is need for the strategists in Washington DC to nuance deeply their confidence in their new pal. Ivory Coast may be a good case study for them. It is important to note that, most French-speaking African countries or partly French-speaking as it is the case with Cameroon are stable not because the native rulers are paragons in administration, but more because of the presence of France.
The Uncertain future of America’s new Pal
Cameroon is therefore appealing to the Americans because the French are making strong contributions toward peace. Any change of policy in Paris might result in mayhem in Cameroon and that aspect has to be taken into account. Or perhaps a secret deal has already been struck on the back of Cameroonians by the two western powers once again.
In the long term, America’s investments in whatever area in Cameroon could be a perilous venture into the unknown. Whereas come what may, Nigeria is set to improve more in the long term and become a sure fix asset for investments more than most countries in the region beside Ghana.
Cameroon besides being beset by tribal allegiance, it is virtually two countries artificially combined into one, that as time goes on, its disintegration, instead of decreasing is increasing. A proof is the direction that, the English-speaking population who consider themselves more as different nationals than Cameroonians and their plethora of nationalist groups under an umbrella organisation known as the SCNC is taking (4).
But Cameroon’s greatest peril may not rest necessarily in the way its English-speaking minority decide their future in the kangaroo union hatched by the UN in 1961, but more in the management of the aftermath of Paul Biya who has been ruling the country for more than 20 years.
He looks apparently exhausted and spends most of his time in Switzerland abandoning his country to the rule of cliques of local champions all angling and waiting for the opportune time to lay claim to the throne. The homosexual saga that has recently rocked the country is a clear indicator that the battle for the succession of Biya has started (5).
The US has its morale right to choose who to make friends with or not, but in choosing Cameroon that is assumed according to some Washington DC strategists, could take on some regional role in peace keeping, might be a wrong choice and calculations.
Attempts by Cameroon to take leadership roles in the micro regional body called CEMAC* has not only been snubbed, but has sparked rebellion from smaller countries such as Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Eventually a counter claim of regional leadership in the CEMAC was launched and won by Gabon forcing Cameroon to back down and leave rostrum.
This has made more manifest in that, the headquarters of that region’s Stock Exchange which would have normally gone to Cameroon is located in Libreville, the capital of Gabon. More decisions in that region are seldom taken in Yaoundé but in Libreville, Malabo or Brazzaville, respectively political and administrative capitals of Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo.
Natural leader
Nigeria is in spite every other consideration, potentially advantageous as a partner not only for the US but with any other bodies, organisations or countries in Africa and the World. Nigeria is the second economic power on the continent and it is the most populated black nation on earth, whose leadership is seldom contested by other African countries as it will be the case of Cameroon should the US desires transform it as a leader of any sort.
Nigeria is in addition a natural leader who does not use its might to abuse and for that, it is respected. More so, Nigeria remains staple in the future and there is no major problem with the matter of succession at the helms of affairs, even though, the current transition is making many to be itchy about the steps that Obasanjo will take.
Nonetheless, to those whose anguish have been exacerbated because of the silence of those currently ruling, the constitution that brought the pair of Obasanjo and Atiku to power is still valid and remains the only source of reference.
Even though Nigeria is the largest supplier of Oil to the US from Africa, a thing that would have warranted more respectful treatment on the part of the Americans than the current state of affairs, the US it must be noted has not always been honest with Nigeria and other black African states.
For example, the US grants annually to Egypt, the lump sum $ 1.3 billion in form of financial aid not to mention the grants of subsidised wheat. Whether the US grants to Egypt is for strategic considerations or to buy/force that African states friendship with Israel, Nigeria is also of strategic importance, but does not get such aid from the US.
Nevertheless, Nigeria will still remain as a source of energy to the US and other Western countries, because its Oil has little sulphur and therefore easy to refine and its proximity with consumers in Europe and the US. President George Bush’s announcement that the US wants to reduce its county’s dependence on Middle Eastern Oil by 75% makes Nigeria omnipresent in the new sources that will fill out the vacant place left by the suppliers from the Middle East (6).
US fear of rivals and the spectre of Nigeria’s disintegration
What may have motivated the US to start looking for alternative partners in the region is the increasing influx of Asian investors, especially Chinese, Indians and South Koreans in Nigeria, chiefly in the Oil sector.
The whooping sum of $ 2.3 billion paid by China National Offshore Oil Corp for stacks in the Niger Delta may have made Washington DC strategists tremble (7). This may not be enough to make the US take wrong decision in its long term strategy in a region that will soon be an important source of energy supply.
Some Washington DC based strategists and social scientists who are advising the current administration may think that, Nigeria is on the verge of disintegration, but the reality is that, Nigerian are far more united with a high sense of nationhood and unity that many seem to underestimate.
Another factor further cementing it unity is the advent of multiparty democracy which will certainly as it has started to demonstrate, lead to transparency and better management of state affairs. It will also provide democratic ways and methods of solving discontents such as those in the Niger Delta and this is good news to those living in those areas, but bad to politicians who are exploiting the disappointment of youths in the troubled region.
As democracy advances, those now calling themselves rebels will see the need to express their anger through the ballot box or take part as active political leaders. In so doing, they will be unmasking all manipulators and opportunists who will only have the courts as route to salvation or ride straight to jail.
This is the time that true friends of Nigeria and Africa must stand up not only to be counted but show their support for Nigeria. If the US is/was really a friend of Nigeria and the black Africa, it would have been helping to implement strong democratic traditions in the country that will be beneficial not only to Nigerian but to the entire region.
Notes:
1 Read Omar Bongo and Airy Routier in Blanc comme Negre published in French by Grasset edition 2001 2 read Elie Smith author of the article Bakassi: Why joint administration offers the best solution, published in the May/June 2005 edition of the magazine African Renaissance 3 read the March 2nd 2006 edition of the news letter La Lettre du Continent, subject: Cameroon, the Newsletter is a publication of Indigo Publications or log on to www.africainterlligence.fr 4 read the article of Kini Nsom and Chantal-Fleur Skaer published in The Post Newspaper of Cameroon of February 2nd 2006 or log on to http://www.postnewsline.com/2006/02/court_poised_to.html#more 5 read the article of Elie smith in titled Celebrating 44 years of Cameroon’s unification: has it succeeded? Published by Post watch magazine by logging on www.postwatchmagazine.com/2005/11/celebrating_44_.html or by logging on www.hollerafrica.com 6 read special report a supplement of Financial Time in titled Africa Oil & Gas of Wednesday March 1st 2006 7 read article China African safari published in the Europe edition of the magazine Fortune of the month of February 2006 pages 58-62
Footnotes
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