Foreign policy agenda for Tinubu

 By Ademola Adebisi

Foreign policy sphere is an aspect of governance that many do not pay much attention to in this part of the world, although the phenomenon of globalisation and its tools have positively impacted on this attitude in recent times. If the citizens are, however, aware of how well a country can appropriate the international environment or relations with other countries on the global corridor to the advantage of their state, such an attentive public will not hesitate to always set foreign policy agenda for an incoming administration.

 In doing this however, analysts are first confronted with having to do so within the context of the officially or constitutionally declared foreign policy objectives of the country. But for the fact that these objectives are often fluid in terms and provisions, the personality traits of a president can certainly influence or outrightly change the foreign policy direction of the country without necessarily offending the officially declared foreign policy objectives.

In charting a new foreign policy course for an incoming administration, it must be that there are things the outgoing administration had done which need to be altered or improved upon or even continued. In any event, the reality of the conduct of foreign policy by states is that it will always be marked by “continuity and change.”

In the near eight years administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, he had conducted the Nigerian foreign policy within the framework of Nigerian foreign policy objectives as provided for in Chapter 13 of the 1999 constitution thus: “promotion and protection of national interest; promotion of African integration and support for African unity:promotion of international cooperation for the consolidation of universal peace and mutual respect among all nations and elimination of discrimination in all manifestation; and respect for international law andtreaty obligations as well as seeking of settlement of international disputes by negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and adjudication; and promotion of a first world economic order.”

All these were further recaptured in the APC’s constitution as the party’s foreign policy objectives. But in his conduct of the country’s foreign policy, he explored and exploited bilateral and multilateral platforms to pursue the matters of fighting corruption, enhancing national security and promoting economic transformation and efficiency, which are obviously an approximation of the country’s constitutionally declared foreign policy objectives and the “centrepiece” of his domestic promises.

In pursuit of these, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari did face some challenges, recorded some successes and hiatuses occasioned by his personality traits, personal values and judgement, and also the dynamics of the international environment.

That said, the question then is: where do we go from here with Tinubu on his mark?

First, Tinubu should continue to build upon the leadership position and image of Nigeria in the West African sub-region. He should continue to deepen Nigeria’s relations with her neighbours for better security of the country. Along here, he should review Nigerian border management strategies to stem the tide of influx of bandits and other marauders that have been tormenting the country unabatedly.

Second, Tinubu, while looking inward for revenue to run his government, should also seek external debt relief from the country’s creditors in order to have breathing space to stimulate economic growth and development as mapped out in his campaign manifesto.

Third, given the image crisis Nigeria suffers in the international system, it is imperative that the administration embarks on “the policy of green redemption”; green here refers to the Nigerian passport, one of the country’s national totems, which has been taken to be synonymous with crime and criminality on the world stage. Today, any person holding the green is not only susceptible to visa denial, but is also exposed to humiliation while on international travels.  For instance, it was reported recently that Professor Ladipo Adamolekun, an academic of world Third, given the image crisis Nigeria suffers in the international system, it is imperative that the administration embarks on “the policy of green redemption”; green here refers to the Nigerian passport, one of the country’s national totems, which has been taken to be synonymous with crime and criminality on the world stage. Today, any person holding the green is not only susceptible to visa denial, but is also exposed to humiliation while on international travels.  For instance, it was reported recently that Professor Ladipo Adamolekun, an academic of worldrepute, a former World Bank official and 80 years old, was denied a South African visa just for vacation! What a slight! The incoming administration should dig into the root causes of instances like this and make concrete efforts to change the narrative.

Fourth, in spite of the scorn by some African countries of Nigeria’s claim to African leadership, Tinubu should not relent in pursuing this objective. Along here, he should work on building Nigeria’s elements of soft power and economic capability with which we can leverage and influence issues on the continent. It will be recalled that the former South African president, Thabo Mbeki, gave an insight into Nigeria’s leadership capability after Tinubu was elected when he said: “you should not forget Africa.”

Fifth, the rationalisation of Nigeria’s membership of some inconsequential and unbeneficial international organisations which was started by Buhari should continue with a view to cutting costs. Beyond this, in all other multilateral institutions we will remain, we should always seek to maximise our national interests and ensure that very competent state officials represent the country. It is indeed time for cost- benefits analysis in our multilateral diplomacy, a tool Tinubu understands as an accountant and businessman.

Furthermore, as a force and voice to be reckoned with in Africa, and the most populous black country on earth, Tinubu’s Nigeria should be assertive and proactive in the conduct of his foreign policy. As an independent-minded person and activist, he should not succumb to any undue influence from any of the great powers that is detrimental to Nigeria’s interest.

 Also, the administration will need to engage a minister of foreign affairs that is cast in the mould of the American Secretary of State that enjoys some measure of visibility in the conduct of America’s foreign policy. This is not because Tinubu is not knowledgeable in international relations, but because it is very imperative that he pays much more attention to his 10-point domestic agenda to transform Nigeria.

At the next election, he will be held more accountable for the fulfilment of his domestic promises by the lay public despite the fact that his foreign forays will complement his domestic achievements. As such, in choosing his minister of foreign affairs, he should settle for someone who has a grasp and experience of the intricacies of bilateral and multilateral relations. In order to strengthen that office, the administration should create a shadow foreign policy think tank made of experts that will work with the minister and the president — for the president doesn’t have to be totally eyes-off, ears-off and hands-off the foreign policy that will forever bear his name.

Finally, the administration also has to reform the country’s foreign policy bureaucracies which have, over the years, been bedeviled by corruption, lethargy, insensitivity and sluggishness in responding to national emergencies on the global stage.

•Dr Adebisi writes from Elizade University.