The President of Nigeria, assuming the role of Chief foreign policy strategist, is off again on a two-week tour outside of our shores.
The Republic of France once again takes center stage in this latest foray. The irony is not lost, we may care to recall that in the build-up to tumultuous events in France the then-reigning Bourbon dynasty were often on their travels “as a shield against daunting realities.
France is today in a precarious position with its former West African colonies which makes beatification from Nigeria very attractive.
What Nigeria is going to gain from this incursion requires scrutiny and a cost-benefit analysis will be in order.
As of now Nigeria operating from a weak economic platform does not have a discernable foreign policy strategy, this is interwoven with the weak moral position of an increasingly authoritarian state.
The dilemma is exemplified by the inadequacy of the response to the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa; a tepid response came two weeks after a strong response from Ghana.
Nigeria has strong economic levers to use against South Africa, the question is why is this not been put into play?
Nigeria can only have a coherent and effective policy when it is anchored on a productive economy at home, accompanied by the moral authority that will come out of jettisoning the current debilitating rentier and strengthening a democratic framework.
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