Nigeria’s Leader Role in the African Union Under President Muhammadu Buhari 2015-2019
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The main objective of this study is to examine Nigeria’s leader role in African union under president Muhammadu Buhari 2015-2019.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Nigeria’s Foreign Policy
A review of Nigeria’s foreign policy positions over the years does point up a number of philosophical-conceptual building blocks which are strongly related to the state of the international environment. Within the context of decolonization, “self-determination and self-government” were core philosophical principles that informed the country’s foreign policy. As the country matured as an independent and sovereign nation, other philosophical principles that became part of Nigeria’s foreign policy fundamentals are enlightened national interest, African solidarity, interdependence, internationalism, asymmetric world order and supranational authority (Ogwu, 2005:7).
Indeed, Chapter 2, Section 19 of the 1999 Constitution, which is the fundamental objectives and directive principles as provided in Section 19 (a-e) encapsulates the Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives to include: (a) promotion and protection of the national interest; (b) promotion of African integration and support for African unity; (c) promotion of international cooperation for the consolidation of universal peace and mutual respect among all nations, and elimination of discrimination in all its manifestations; (d) respect for international law and treaty obligations as well as the seeking of settlement of international disputes by negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and adjudication; and (e) promotion of a just world order (1999 Constitution of the FGN; Akindele, 2013:13; Saliu, 2013:171).
To be sure, it is generally asserted that there has been continuity in the substantive content or focus, meaning the principal objectives of Nigeria’s foreign policy, since independence (Akinyemi, 1989; Akindele, 1990; Isah, 1991; Akinboye, 1993; Gambari, 1986; Saliu, 1999; Obiozor, 2007; Ayam, 2010; Akinboye, 2013). It is further stated that whatever difference there is or has been, is, by and large, a matter of style, emphasis, personality, institutional reform, and historical circumstances within and outside Nigeria. Solomon Akinboye boldly reaffirms the above submission, thus:
It is very clear that there is continuity across regimes in spite of changes in the pursuit of national interest. There is constancy in Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives and foreign relations from the civilian regime of Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa to President Goodluck Jonathan (Akinboye, 2013:13).
The pursuit of Nigerian foreign policy began in earnest after the attainment of independence in October 1, 1960. In the foreign policy statements made in August and December 1960 respectively, the first Prime Minister of Nigeria, Tafawa Balewa, outlined some objectives of the country’s foreign policy. These objectives or goals of the Nigerian foreign policy have consistently been maintained despite numerous changes in government. At independence, the country’s foreign policy sought to achieve the following objectives: promotion of the economic well-being of Nigerians and Africans; promotion of Nigeria’s territorial integrity; eradication of all forms of racism and colonialism from African continent; protection of the rights of black men all over the world; and promotion of international peace and security (Ogwu, 1986:8; Olusanya and Akindele, 1986:3-5).
However, the philosophical foundation of Nigeria’s foreign policy in the first republic was not unconnected to the country’s colonial experience, the nature and structure of the world system, and the vocabulary of politics. It is the combination of these interrelated factors that provides the sources of the philosophical foundations of the country’s foreign policy, at a time when the anti-colonial struggle and the crisis of collective racial identity of colonized peoples were critical issues in world politics (Jinadu, 2005).
Despite these lofty aspirations, Nigeria’s foreign policy in the First Republic has often been generally described as timid, docile, ambivalent, dissonant, indecisive and inert (Akinboye, 2013:5). The colonial legacy which restricted the policy options of the immediate post-independence leaders, the relative poverty of the country at the time, the lack of experience in international affairs, the conservative outlook of the prime minister Tafawa Balewa and other members of his cabinet, and serious domestic divisions which led the regions to open different consulates abroad are some of the reasons that have been advanced for the low-profile foreign policy (Idang, 1973; Aluko, 1981; Osaghae, 2002).
CHAPTER THREE
BUHARI ELECTION AND HIS PROGRAMS
General elections were scheduled to take place in Nigeria on February 16, 2019, to elect the president, vice president, and members of the National Assembly. These elections was the sixth quadrennial elections since the end of military rule and the beginning of the country’s transition to democratic governance in 1999. The elections were postponed until Saturday, February 23, 2019, and four days later the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission officially declared incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari as the winner with 56 percent of the votes to opposition leader Atiku Abubakar’s 41 percent.
In postponing the election, the chairman of the electoral commission, Mahmood Yakubu, indicated that the commission had undertaken a “careful review of the implementation of the logistics and operation plan” and that in order “to conduct free, fair, and credible elections,” it had come “to the conclusion that proceeding with the election as scheduled [was] no longer feasible.”
Critics of the commission’s decision to delay the vote say that the postponement was probably part of the incumbent government’s effort to manipulate the poll to its advantage. At the very least, the sudden postponement created, in the minds of many people especially those in the opposition—the appearance of unfairness and corruption.
CHAPTER FOUR
BUHARI FOREIGN POLICY
The New President M. Buhari has also made series of trips abroad in a bid to restore to lost glory. His recent travel has led him to four out of the five countries of the UN. Security Council. And his supposed fight against terrorism has given a new dimension to Nigerians foreign policy as his main aim is; fight corruption, economic development and the fight against terrorism. These however are still under view Under the leadership of President Muhammad Buhari, Nigeria assumed leadership of several international organizations like the ECOWAS, African Union (AU) and G- 77.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION
Internationally, the pervasive corruption in Nigeria had tarnished the image of the country and has resulted in foreign nationals exercising extreme caution in entering into business transactions with Nigerians, thereby weakening the economic secto. President Buhari did not actually succeeded in implementing foreign policy as evidenced from USA government refusing to sell weapons to Nigeria, . Similarly, many Nigerians were executed in countries like Indonesia, Philippines, Australia and unprovoked attacks on Nigerian national and massive deportation of Nigerians across the globe.
In general, The Buhari’s administration, like many other administrations in Nigeria has never lacked in good policies. The problem of Nigeria’s foreign policy that is affecting the country’s image is not in formulation, but in implementation as noted by Nwankwo . It therefore means, Nigerian Foreign Policy under JBuhari’ administration had never failed to have meaningful impact on the global community.
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