State Emissary, November 2017. Issue 1 2017 Edition | Page 13

SM | POLITICS
BUHARI'S FOREIGN POLICY
Imagine a world where travelling with a green passport accorded
you respect, not suspicion. Or, administration where foreigners
married Nigerians for citizenship.
BY AFOLABI ADEKAIYAOJA
The world is more interconnected than ever, and it is
why evaluating foreign policy is important, and for a
country like Nigeria, ensuring that a vibrant and
active one is in place.
inaction on international matters. But because
Nigerians thrive everywhere, we should be concerned
about our neighbours. This concern materialised with
the contagiousness of coups in West Africa during the
sixties, and since then, Nigerian officers have served in
foreign mis sions under ECOWAS to preserve this
peace.
Many of us ignore how affairs abroad affect us at
home, but the world we live in is smaller than it seems.
Our relationship with other
nations is why petrol prices
We must understand that just as
increase when a coalition of other
we upgrade security and form
“We see the foundation of
oil producing countries say so and
community watch groups after a
why travelling to the United
spate of robberies, we should
Nigeria's approach to
States became more difficult when
make
sure our foreign policy
international relations. "We
a certain gentleman tried to stick
takes
care
of us.
belong to Africa, and Africa
too much in his pants. It affects must claim first attention in our
where students can go to school,
The Giant of Africa
external affairs”
where staff can go for training and
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa,
even just generally where people
who doubled as Prime Minister
can goto find better economic
and Foreign Minister in 1960,
opportunities. We've all heard the refrain that one in
was an active foreign commentator on the world
every five sub-Saharan Africans is a Nigerian, surely
stage. From his analysis on how foreign aid and trade
that means that any issue for concern elsewhere will
affected independence, we see the foundation of
affect Nigerians and Nigeria at large.
Nigeria's approach to international relations. "We
belong to Africa, and Africa must claim first attention
But despite what we may believe, Nigeria isn't a global
in our external affairs," he said, firmly linking Nigeria's
superpower. Regional power yes, but no superpower.
identity to Africa.
Our press will not grill the President over action or
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