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From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
Concerned foreign relations professionals, have thrown their weight behind the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, over his activities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since assumption of office.
The groups said reports in the media which erroneously pointed accusing fingers at Tuggar, for recalling ambassadors and not appointing new ones was done in bad fate.
The International Relations and Affairs Alliance (IRAA), a coalition of international relations practitioners based in Lagos, lambasted a Coalition of Civil Society Groups for a lack of zero knowledge about diplomatic processes.
IRAA Nigeria, led by Mrs Adewusi Bakare, in a statement made available to Daily Sun, faulted a statement by the Coalition of Civil Society Groups signed by Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta.
“Ude-Umanta should note that ambassadors serve at the prerogative of the President of a Country and not the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Their recall and appointment lie solely with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The group has shown zero knowledge of the process and serving the bidding of their paymasters,” Bakare said.
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IRAA also reacted to the sexual allegation against the suspended Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa, saying that if the group had followed the events, they would have discovered that Tuggar was the first to draw the attention of the Head of Service to the matter and asked that she take charge according to the extant rules of the civil service.
“However, the group has mischievously left that out and is now turning it against the Honourable Minister. In this matter, the minister has acted above board to ensure that due process was followed.
“Tuggar has led the process of the signing of 25 International MoUs that will, in turn, be highly beneficial to Nigeria across energy, business and investment sectors, and has revived several bi-national commissions, finalisation of the BASA agreement with the US, vigorous campaign of Nigeria in the inclusion of G20, United Nations Security Council and BRICS. Most importantly, a-14 billion USD investment from Indian investors across ICT, Power, steel and manufacturing, agriculture and defence, real estate and hospitality. Other investments attracted to Nigeria through Tuggar’s economic diplomacy include a-two billion USD Investment from Germany for the Nigeria-Siemens Power Project and a-250 million Euros investment from the Netherlands to boost existing business in Nigeria,” Bakare also said.
The International Relations and Affairs Alliance however warned interest groups to desist from tarnishing Nigeria’s image by writing outright fabrications to fight proxy wars on behalf of politicians seeking ambassadorial appointments, disgruntled foreign service officers.
IRAA also said Tuggar’s multi-polarity approach to international relations, which dealt mainly with Nigeria’s interests while relating to the US, EU, Russia, and China, was the best deal Nigeria could have now.
“It shows someone who is abreast of global diplomacy and must be supported to succeed in Nigeria’s interest,” Bakare stated.
