By Joy Omagha Idam
Nigerians have been reassured not to get worried over the numerous foreign trips of President Muhammadu Buhari, but rather “count ourselves lucky to have a Principal and a global product that has brought Nigeria several goodwill.”
Addressing diplomatic correspondents recently in Abuja the three wise visioners of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (aka the three Musketeers namely the Hon Minister Amb Geoffrey Onyema, the Minister of State Hajia Khadija Abba Bukar Ibrahim and the Permanent Secretary Amb Yusuf Lolo,) urged Nigerians to actually “plead with President Buhari to travel more as this has opened several doors for us.”
Explaining further Geoffrey Onyema, noted that although the Ministry is blessed with the three Musketeers, “our role is to wet, prepare the grounds for Mr President and follow up on initial discussions the President must have had with his counterparts. Adding that the President’s presence in most of the countries visited yielded lots of instant dividends.”
Amb Onyema noted that “there can be no foreign policy without domestic policy, the main thrust of the Buhari administration focuses on three areas, Security, Economy and Corruption,(SEC).”
He stated that upon assuming Office, President Buhari visited “our immediate neighbors; ,Benin,Chad and Niger, to seek collaboration in tackling the insurgency which is a global issue and was ravaging the North East part region of Nigeria.”
Similarly in the face of the falling price of Oil the President also emphasized the need to diversify into Agriculture, Solid Minerals Mining and to woo direct Foreign Investors into the nation. Those countries visited included Egypt, Equitorial Guinea, Kenya, South Africa to mention a few and in all this countries agreements were reached and MOUs signed.
Some of the reasons put forward to Nigerians on why President Buhari travels includes;
1. President Buhari represents an unimpeachable integrity and he is Nigeria’s strongest brand marketed the world over.
2. We need our neighbors to help us fight the insurgency that has ravaged the North East of Nigeria.
3. Nigeria is in a hurry to play in the first 11 of the world super economic powers.
4. Buhari has earned Nigeria numerous collaborations, thus he is being begged to visit more nations to further boost our diplomatic ties.
5. Earned Nigeria co-operations, as countries that had shut their doors to Nigeria have now thrown them open.
6. Buhari has brought Nigeria and Africa a lot of flexibility which has made two Asian powers Japan and India to pledge huge sums of aid.
7. Need to change the narrative of our foreign policy.
8. There are no nations without without skeletons in their cupboard, thus Nigerian journalists should put patriotism first and see the good side in this administration and all it is bringing to the table for Nigerians.
9. Each of these visits have not been jamborees as critics believe but very tiring meetings from morning to dusk most times skipping meals. “If the health of the President permits him to travel then Nigerians should actually plead with him to embark on more trips to bring us more good rather than seat at home.”
10. He is respected globally that is why members of OPEC are urging him to lead negotiations on new pricing and way forward
The Minister of State, Hajia Khadija Bukar Ibrahim, noted that “no true democrat or leader would seat at home while his house is on fire neither would he sleep when his children are hungry, he would rush out to seek help and that is what Buhari is doing.
In a related development the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amb Lolo hinted that Nigerians in the diaspora can now heave a sigh of relief as there are strong indications that their quest to participate in the country’s general elections may happen in 2019 “if the clause in the 1999 Constitution is removed to enable Nigerians in diaspora vote.”
What this means is that major stake holders; INEC, the Legislators and Nigerians in diaspora who contribute $27billion annually to our economy will work towards actualizing this dream. Even the President is very concerned.
Meanwhile the President is scheduled to visit Washington DC, to participate in the 4th series of the meeting of nuclear powers as the trips unfolds the Honourable Minister Amb Onyema promised to keep Nigerians informed. He appreciated the Journalists covering the Ministry while wishing Nigerians a memorable Easter Commemoration.
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