Opinion: Buhari’s foreign policy is very confusing

I had gone to the records department to obtain my patient’s card as instructed by the doctor. On getting to the desk, I noticed the two ladies on duty were immersed in a discussion about the country and most precisely the nation’s president.

From the snippet I got while openly eavesdropping, I was in no time able to deduce the fact that they were huge fans of the president’s style of governance. As I tried to walk away back into the clinic to meet the doctor, then I heard a dialogue which inspired the writing of this post and which is the title of this write up.

One of the ladies in question was questioned by another third party in a manner that seemed like a heckle (I presume) what have you got to say about the frequenting of shores outside Nigeria by our president. He seems to be a president of the Diaspora, the lady quizzed.

In a frantic effort to defend the president and in a desperate bid to show off (as it seemed obvious that she had heard a thing or two from someone who defended PMB) she responded by answering in a rather violent mood. Anybody that questions the president for travelling incessantly does not know anything about government and the process of governance… She ended by asking ‘what about foreign policy?’

This outburst from her ended the conversation as the new party to the dialogue accused her of not being emotionally and psychologically ready to engage in a discuss with her. She further admonished that the lady should help herself by going to understand what governance really is before she starts talking about foreign policy.

I was disappointed about the untimely death of their discussion, but it also quickly reminded me of the fact that a doctor was awaiting me. Like a novice I went home like a schmuck looking for a meaning to governance and foreign policy even after spending the last six or seven years of life doing studies that centered on these concepts. After searching, I was convinced that ‘yes i still got it… My initial position was not dissimilar to what was all over. I was disappointed as i felt i chivvied a lot on what i know too well.

Before I bore you with my side talk, let me do justice to the original title of the write up. what about foreign policy? As earlier stated, the state was supposedly to be an alibi for the never ending travels of Mr. President. So what about foreign policy?

Governance is summarily a conglomeration of efforts put together by institutions of state to ensure equitable distribution of benefits within a social contract. This could be in terms of policies and direct actions of government who over sees the activities of the state institutions to bring about better livelihood for its citizens. Governance in the lay man understanding will just mean local policies that will bring about naira in HIS hands with a guaranteed value for money in full and operational assurance.

Foreign policies are activities aimed to promote external relations with stressed emphasis on promoting national interest. Simply put, a foreign policy is a locally conceived idea which aims to establish, influence, and consolidate on cross border relations with an aim to strengthen the domestic situation of the country.

It has been often argued that F.P is simply a continuation of domestic policies as both are all about ensuring the survival and growth of the nation. For instance, a currency deal with China (foreign) will go some way in alleviating the sufferings of the Naira which will in turn improve things locally(domestic).

However, which is most important or rather in a scale of must do’s which should come first? The domestic policy of the country should be a guide and a projector to what a state aims to achieve within the committee of states.

Nigeria for instance should be more pre occupied by trying to diversify its economy by relying on the strengths, resilience, industry and creativity of the populace, more attention should be given to local talent rather than jumping abroad to sign dubious deals that position us as slaves and Lazarus  at the mercies of a rich nation.  The current administration from all indications is one that is lacking in plan, bearing and has laze written all over it.

President Buhari and his team had no budget and one will wonder what it has  being presenting as a mapped line of action during negotiations seeking global support. The resultant flaw is that we may end up going into fruitless bilateral relations for just the headlines it may create. Again example will be drawn from an arrangement that sees Nigeria as a member of the Islamic coalition in the fight against terror.

In my candid opinion, I think it’s a wrong move not because of what many tem as the agenda to turn the country into an Islamic state.

However, I am rather guided by the fact that from border to border, continent to continent the dynamics involved in the emergence and sustenance of terrorism and its vices differ and are unique. For instance, it has been factored that people in the middle east  face more issues on radicalism and fanatics and are mostly in the interest to spread Islam.

In Nigeria, we may face issues of radicalism, however the root cause may be a protracted imbalance within the political, economic and socio-cultural structures of our society. Ensure good governance at all levels and we may have solved 90% or more of our problems. This means we are operating on different terms in dealing with a similar issue. What then is the need for coalition?

The economy was at its peak in the 1970s to 80s as we were mostly reliant on export of not just crude oil but cash crops to all continents of the world. We were never too dependent on foreign investors. This is not saying that they are not needed; however, if in truism we intend to industrialize our land, then we should not be gallivanting and wagging our tails at the beckon of foreign looters. Who will come to steal and yet give us conditions to further impoverish the people?

Why not look inwards, put things in place and ensure the workability of our institutions. Provide good roads, stable and standard power supply, ensure security and the rest of them. Do all these and I assure you with the level of natural and human resources available in Nigeria. These so called expatriates and investors will flood our economy and we can make them operational based on OUR own terms and condition.

All the jamboree about corruption that some people have come to celebrate should be nullified as it seems to be foreign induced. Until Africans start applying African solutions to deal with African problems and in this case NAIJA SOLUTIONS TO NAIJA ISSUES, we may continue to fail.  Again if it is really important that our president must travel, why then do we have a minister of foreign affairs or there about?

Or is the president silently saying he has no confidence in the capability and competence of his own appointee. Why then keep him in that position. We have very well respected diplomats and this people should be allowed to do their jobs. PMB should face more important issues domestically and stop jumping on the plane like he was voted to be a pilot assistant.

Nigerians need their president to be home attending to real issues directly affecting the man in Odo-owa Ekiti my home town, the people of Maza town in Jos, the hinter lands in the east and the men in the creeks of the Niger/Delta, the woman in kotton karfe needs her president to be Home not in the palaces and buildings of world leaders that are in a secret contract to suck us dry and wish us little luck. PMB is understandably the head and figure of the Nigerian policy agenda; he should understand that home comes first.

Even in football, its commendable to record away wins, however holding your home and making it a fortress is key. Ask the two Madrid teams how they made it to this season’s final of the UEFA champion’s league. Leicester did more home wins than it did away, and Liverpool used the strength of the Anfield fans to get into the final of the Europa league. We got all we need right here.

Pax.


Op–ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija

Ayodele kelvin has a B.A in History and International studies and holds a Masters degree in Peace and Development studies. He can be reached via [email protected] [email protected]

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