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• President’s state visit has economic, diplomatic gains –Buratai
• Nigeria to enjoy port development, security –Sheni
From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd) and a former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Danjuma Sheni, have expressed their views on President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom as guest of Their Majesties, King Charles 111 and Queen Camilla.
Buratai and Sheni, who was also a Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, expressed their views in separate interviews with Saturday Sun in Abuja.
Buratai said diplomacy is one of the instruments used by the government to promote its image globally, adding that he saw the visit as reconnecting back to the well-cherished relationship between the United Kingdom and Nigeria over the years.
The former Chief of Army Staff also said the historical relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom is well known, Nigeria being a former colony of the United Kingdom, as well as the long established cordial relationship between both countries since the nation’s independence, a relationship which has continued to flourish over the years.
He stated that there are many economic advantages, economic relationship that have existed between both countries and in terms of diplomacy, both countries have maintained cordial relations and each country has maintained a diplomatic presence in each of the countries.
“So, the economic advantage which the government will derive from this relationship is further cemented with this relationship. Since the coming of Mr President in 2023, he has visited other countries like France, Turkey of recent and now in the UK. He has been to Brazil and other Caribbean countries in pursuance of the diplomatic objectives of the government. So, we see a much robust relationship that will be pursued after this visit,” Buratai said.
Buratai who further took note of the recent move by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the approval of the list of ambassadors and high commissioners who would soon be posted to their various missions abroad, said he looked forward to the final acceptance of the ambassadors and high commissioners-designate by the host countries so that they can report at their duty post to carry out their assignments.
He also said diplomacy is an instrument to project the image of the country, promote national interest in the areas of economy, culture, as well as protecting the interest of Nigerians that are living in those countries.
“I want to congratulate Mr President for this bold step, and we have seen the royal reception, which is historical. King Charles and his family were at hand to receive the president with dignity and honour. This is very important. This will further cement the relationship.
“We saw him also at 10, Downing Street, where the British Prime Minister received him and this will further take us to have that major economic and trade deal that the government is expected to enter with the UK government.
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“Cultural and religious activities are also part of this issue and so on, but very importantly and finally, you can see that the security is very important and I believe also that there will be security discussion in that regard. We need partners. We need people or nations that will come and support us to counter the myriads of security challenges we have in our country,” Buratai declared.
On his part, Sheni said in diplomacy, there are different kinds of visits that a Head of State can undertake such as working visit, or official visit. But he noted that a state visit is the highest level of visit any head of state can receive.
“In this context, the last, I think it was Babangida, it was about 37 years ago if I am correct, that a Nigerian Head of State went on a state visit. Please, I didn’t say a visit, a state visit. It comes with a lot of things, one of which is that you must be received at the highest level, and here, it is the sovereign of the United Kingdom.
“He is a guest of the King of England. For instance, if he were on an official visit, he would not be a guest of the king directly. Therefore, the king is obligated to be with him, and that is why you will notice he gave him lunch or dinner. It is a more relaxed, calmer visit where issues are discussed in a more relaxed and more serious manner.
“So, one, this visit puts Nigeria on the world map at this stage. The visibility of the president being received by the King of England puts Nigeria on an international pedestal that the whole world is looking at,” Sheni said.
He also recalled that Britain is the head of the Commonwealth comprising 56 countries, and apart from that, President Tinubu’s host is the king.
“Being with him alone is a big diplomatic visibility that has put Nigeria on the world map. So, the whole world, everybody is turning and then the question, why is the king receiving the President of Nigeria on a state visit? If you go through the gamut of the discussions, it is because of the nature, the special relationship that Nigeria has with Britain, being our colonial master and even after that, most of our systems and structures in Nigeria are fashioned after the British – school system for instance, our legal system for instance, all are modelled after the British system. So, we have a lot of things in common, and for a long time, Nigeria and Britain have been long allies on the international scene.
“I looked at the number of issues that were put up on the table – there is the issue of security. From my understanding, Britain has agreed, or part of the agreement was for Britain to assist Nigeria in the security sector of the country. Given the challenges that we have in the country currently, that is a big development if fully implemented. It is one thing to have an agreement, but if fully implemented, Nigeria will benefit greatly from that.
“I noticed that there was an agreement also on the development of our ports. That is also a huge relief for Nigeria, that Britain is providing some funding for the development of our port. So, when you see this kind of agreement, for us diplomats, we are happy, and we encourage implementation and follow up. So, on the whole, I think it is a good development for Nigeria.
“Of course, there are those who think that he shouldn’t have gone at this time because of the security situation. Yes, that is a valid point, but if he did not go, the bandits and the criminals and those who perpetrate for instance, the Maiduguri mayhem, will think they have won,” Sheni stated.
He, however, said since the President had directed the service chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri, he is of the opinion that the president shouldn’t have allowed the Minister of Defence to accompany him on the state visit to the United Kingdom.
