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- Says for Nigeria to maintain leadership position, it must increase military-industrial capability weight, economic prosperity
From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Association of Foreign Relations Professionals of Nigeria (AFRPN), has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of competence, appoint one of them as Nigeria’s foreign minister in his yet-to-be-constituted cabinet.
AFRPN said appointing a foreign relations professional as foreign affairs minister will make the delivery of the nation’s foreign policy a seamless exercise.
AFRPN President, Ambassador Gani Lawal, made the call in Abuja while briefing journalists ahead of the association’s fifth annual lecture slated for Thursday in Abuja.
Lawal said: “When talking of competence, you are looking at people who have been involved in foreign relations, both in theory and in practice. And where do you find such people? You find them among the retired ambassadors who have passed through the foreign ministry.
“That is not to say that you cannot also get foreign relations experts from elsewhere, but we are particular about choosing a foreign minister who has seen it all from among our ranks. And that was why you saw the excitement when the permanent secretary was appointed. And as I said earlier on, it ensures a kind of seamless relationship between professionals handling the same matter.
“It is teamwork. So, when you are in the teamwork and you have competent hands, the job becomes easier because what A does not see, it is likely B will see because you are on the same page. That is exactly what we are saying. That is better than having somebody who does not have any knowledge and then, you will be coming to do guesswork.”
Asked to proffer a solution on what should be the thrust of Nigeria’s foreign policy, more importantly, that Nigeria’s gestures in the past were not reciprocated by neighbouring countries and in view of the new economic realities and new political environment, Lawal noted that Nigeria’s foreign policy has served the nation in good stead.
He added that right from the inception, one of the cardinal principles of Nigeria’s foreign policy was to be able to assist one’s neighbour, operate within one’s region, and operate within one’s continent before proceeding to the international arena.
“And that is what we have been doing. So, some people feel that because we have been doing this and they didn’t pay us back. You see, payback is not always visible.
“Don’t forget that international relations is not a business that you carry out in the open. A lot of give and take,” Lawal stated.
Earlier, Lawal said it is often said that there is no permanent friend or enemy in the international environment, but permanent interest, adding that as permanent national interests evolve, a friend today can become an enemy tomorrow.
He also said it was expected that a nation will weave its national interest around the weight of its military-industrial complex and natural resources to earn a favourable comparable edge in global intercourse.
“At present, the national interest of Nigeria is to build a strong economic base, fight insurgency and terrorism and decapitate the corruption monster. Therefore, finding resources to actualize these interests in the international arena remains the cornerstone of Nigeria’s foreign policy goals.
“Democratic governance offers the best approach to pursue these foreign policy goals. The maxim that foreign policy is an extension of internal policy is better illustrated by Nigeria’s insistence on zero tolerance for military coups and undemocratic change of government in Africa. This requires that Nigeria must demonstrate exemplary leadership by tenaciously nurturing and deepening its internal democracy and assisting less powerful countries to maintain their democracy.
“For Nigeria to continue to maintain a leadership position, it must increase its weight of military-industrial capability, economic prosperity at home and readiness to assist its neighbours and lesser third world democracies. It must also invest abundantly in the African Union mantra of regional integration and cooperation, silencing the guns and support for less developed neighbours and conflict resolution through dialogue and compromise.
“It is instructive to reiterate that the Afrocentric nature of Nigeria’s foreign policy which was birthed since October 7, 1960, including its variants of concentric circles, economic and citizen diplomacy, must be maintained. It has served us in good stead and continues to serve us till today as exemplified by the emergence of our new president as Chairman of ECOWAS on its first appearance at its summit in Guinea Bissau.
“We are aware of unusual and new developments such as challenges posed by non-state actors, narcotics, the proliferation of small arms and increased transnational crimes, as well as new dynamics in global affairs requiring improved strategies. But we do not think there may be the need to try to reinvent the wheel, instead, we are better served by strengthening what has worked and acknowledge it, and revisit what has not worked and improve on it,” Lawal stated.
