Foreign Policy and President Yar’Adua’s impending Cabinet Shake-up

Abubakar Atiku Nuhu-Koko

President Yar’Adua’s administration’s seven point agenda for Nigeria’s socio-economic and political transformation did not accord the nation’s foreign policy any special and or significant priority compared with the previous administration he succeeded. To date, no one has questioned this gap in the history of Nigeria’s foreign policy evolution and governance of Nigeria since independence.

In the past, foreign policy has always commanded a top priority on the list of all policies and programs of the successive Nigerian governments (including that of the reclusive late General Sani Abacha). The reason for that is not farfetched. Nigeria is a major player in a number of key international, regional and sub-regional issues with global dimensions and consequences. For example, Nigeria is a major player in global energy supply and its geo-politics.

Nigeria is a very crucial member of the organization for the petroleum exporting countries (OPEC). Thus, any crude oil production hiccup happening in Nigeria will immediately send disturbing signals in the global crude oil supply and price movement.

In the same token, weak demand for crude oil and concomitant downward slide of price of crude oil in the international oil markets send disturbing signals to the economic and financial wellbeing of the Nigerian economy. Hence, Nigerian governments always place important priority to the nation’s foreign economic policy especially with regards to issues concerning international oil geo-politics and political economy.

Furthermore, Nigeria tends to play crucial roles in international peace and security. This has been the case since the Congo crisis in the early 1960s when Nigeria contributed and actively participated in the United Nations (UN) led Peace Keeping operation there. Since then, Nigeria has always been in the forefront in making tangible contribution and participation in the UN, African Union (AU) (formerly, the Organization of African Unity – OAU) and or the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) initiated international Peace Keeping operations. Nigeria has done these missions credibly in countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Chad, Haiti, just to mention but a few places. Presently, our troops are performing wonderfully in Darfur, the Sudan, among other conflicts zones elsewhere.

In addition, as the largest black nation on earth population wise, Nigeria is a key player in international and global politics both at the United Nations, African Union and other multilateral and bilateral international fora. Moreover, Nigerians are highly visible in all nations of the world; from Governor (now Presidential Running Mate to Presidential Candidate Senator McCain) Sarah Palin’s frozen State of Alaska in the United States to the troubled cities of Mugabe’s Zimbabwe. These and other factors make foreign policy as a top priority of any Nigerian government thus far.

However, since coming into office in May 2007, Nigeria’s hitherto vibrant foreign policy has taken the back seat. It will be recalled that during the immediate past administration (1999-2007), former President Obasanjo performed the functions of the executive president, commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Nigeria in combination with the functions of the Ministers of Petroleum and Energy Resources and Foreign Affairs simultaneously. In the later case, there was a Minister of and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs notwithstanding.

Presently, the nation’s Foreign Affairs ministry has not shown any significant achievement apart from the shabby way Bakassi Peninsular was ceded to the Republic Cameroun in August this year. No wonder therefore, President Yar’Adua’s administration has been missing a number of golden opportunities to project, protect and defend our national interests globally be it at the United Nations, AU or even at the sub-regional level of the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS).

Nigeria could not even protest the brutal killings of its citizens be it in South Africa, Saudi Arabia, United States of America, Thailand and of recent, in Indonesia. Foreign Airlines making supper profits on the very lucrative Nigerian routes continue to abuse and brutalize Nigerian passengers with impunity; even our revered religious and traditional rulers are not spared these insults. Yet, we continue to pride our beloved country the “giant of Africa” and what have you.

President Yar’Adua has started the process of rejuvenation of his administration with the sacking of his erstwhile Armed forces Chiefs and the latest sacking of his erstwhile Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe and the restructuring of the federal ministries and the establishment of a brand new Ministry for the Niger Delta.

As the President is about by now, in the final stage of carrying out a major cabinet reshuffle; retaining, dropping and appointing new faces into the cabinet, and as well as reassigning portfolios of some of the Ministers who survive the shake-up, I would suggest that the Foreign Affairs portfolios be given special consideration similar to that of the newly created Ministry for the Niger Delta.

In this case, I would suggest that President Yar’Adua needs to take into consideration a number of factors in deciding those he appoints to the key posts of Minister and Minister of State in the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Irrespective of political party affiliation, geo-political and ethno-religious balancing, the President should appoint persons that are: diplomatically skilful; highly competent and experienced, and above all, nationally and internationally respected individuals.

In this respect, I have narrowed the search to two gentlemen: Ambassador Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Ambassador Alhaji Aminu Wali (mni). These two eminent Nigerians need no introduction to the generality of Nigerians and the international community respectively. For example, Ambassador Chief Emeka Anyaoku served as the longest Deputy Secretary-General and Secretary-General respectively of the Commonwealth of Nations with its Headquarters in London.

It could be recalled that, Chief Emeka Anyaoku was also invited from the Commonwealth Secretariat to return to Nigeria to serve as the nation’s Foreign Affairs Minister by former President Shehu Shagari in 1983. Unfortunately, the sad military coup that truncated the then nascent democracy prevented him from providing his expert service to the nation then. Now is the best opportunity for President Yar’Adua to restore that well deserved meritorious appointment to him. As for his impeccable Curriculum Vitae (CV), one will need dozen of sheets of paper to list his meritorious achievements and accomplishments in life. That can be found elsewhere in the Who’s Who in the World.

As for Ambassador Aminu Wali, he too needs no introduction both at home and abroad. As a matter of fact, the veteran politician just completed a tour of diplomatic duty at the United Nations as Nigeria’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative (2003-2007). Prior to been sent to the UN, he served as former President Obasanjo’s Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters (1999-2003).

During his political sojourn as President Obasanjo’s special envoy to the trouble hot spot; the National Assembly (NASS), he used his skilful negotiating and conflict management tactics and techniques to ensure near harmonious working relationships and respect between the executive and legislative arms of the federal government; despite the publicly acknowledged mistrust and very poor working relationship existing between the two respective arms of the federal government.

Ambassador Aminu Wali was the main facilitator (behind the scenes) that brought about an end to the near successful impeachment of former President Obasanjo from office by the then Rt. Hon. Speaker Ghali Na Abba’s led strong Federal House of Representatives members of the National Assembly. He assisted greatly in facilitating and putting together the mediation and reconciliation committee headed jointly by former President Shehu Shagari and former Head of State General Gowon; with my humble self being the initiator of the whole process (also behind the scenes). The initiative was done with good intention under the Shehu Shagari World Institute for Leadership and Good Governance (SSWI). The motive was to avoid the repeat of the sad event of December 31, 1983; the return of military dictatorship.

Albeit however, the Shagari-Gowon mediation and reconciliation initiative received mixed reactions from many concerned Nigerians; on the one hand some were seriously against it and on the other hand, some were supportive. However, with the benefit of hindsight, many Nigerians later felt that the impeachment process should have been allowed to be carried to the end when the frightening “Third Term” hidden agenda began to unfold before the nation. That is now history.

Therefore, the combined skills, exposures and experiences both at home and abroad of the duo of Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Ambassador Aminu Wali respectively, can be synergized together to bring life and dynamism back into Nigeria’s foreign policy establishment.

President Yar’Adua’s seven point agenda and his desire to make Nigeria among the top 20 developed economies of the world by 2020 deserve a strong, innovative and dynamic foreign policy and capable hands to deliver that policy in the desired direction. Hence, the need for giving consideration to the candidature of these two highly regarded foreign policy and diplomacy tested old hands.

Therefore, Ambassador Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Ambassador Alhaji Aminu Wali are among the most capable hands that can ensure that Yar’Adua’s administration and Nigeria benefit substantially from international goodwill following Nigeria’s voluntary ceding of Bakassi peninsula to the Republic of Cameroun recently. These gentlemen are highly regarded and respected by the international community and world leaders. Both can tap on their respective extensive contacts and networks globally, in order for Nigeria to move toward attaining its aims and objectives with respect to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); vision 20-2020 and above all, President Yar’Adua’s seven point development agenda for social and economic as well as political transformation of Nigeria

Accordingly, these two gentlemen have all that it takes to close the existing wide gap and deficits in President Yar’Adua’s administration’s foreign policy establishment. It should be pointed out that for Nigeria to be able to attain the much desired global reckoning and for President Yar’Adua’s seven point agenda to receive the desired international, bilateral and multilateral donor support and assistance, the President must have capable handlers that include such towering personalities like Ambassador Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Ambassador Alhaji Aminu Wali. And the most auspicious time to take advantage of this golden opportunity is now.

These are gentlemen that understand first hand, peaceful resolution of conflicts; tolerance, especially in spheres of religion, culture and ideology; respect for sovereignty of nations; respect for diversity and multi-cultural global order; and above all, respect for human dignity and harmonious coexistence with our fragile environment and the planet earth.

At a recent function at the University of Ibadan for example, Chief Anyaoku was quoted as saying: “We live in an era of asymmetrical globalization…Today’s globalization which is riding on the back of the military and economic wherewithal of the developed nations cannot subsist indefinitely.” Therefore, according to him, the developing nations of the world, despite the major challenges confronting them most become “assertive” and begin to challenge the current lopsided trend of globalization.

Thus, President Yar’Adua’s administration needs a far-reaching foreign policy establishment capable of linking and mainstreaming the administration’s domestic agenda with Nigeria’s international and global interests in a way and manner, which Nigerians any where in the world, can be proud to be counted as proudly Nigerians. Nigeria needs to take its rightful and respectful place and position in this era of globalization.

Abubakar Atiku Nuhu-Koko

Monday, 15 Septem