First Lady’s maneuvers shouldn’t be casual Nigerians saw how it all happened. They saw how people waved President Goodluck Jonathan’s pictures before TV cameras in the Saharawi Republic. The entire event could have been mistaken for a rally, one of those political party rallies in Nigeria where female attendees traditionally create their own planet, singing praises and painting the venue green, white, and red in their exotic headgears and wrappers. But this event was in the North-West corner of Africa where the people of the Saharawi Republic showed their appreciation for what Nigeria had done for them. The atmosphere was such that it seemed like Jonathan was present. He wasn’t. And Dame Patience Jonathan too was not, although she was the one who sent a delegation to deliver a message on her behalf. The message included donations to the needy, and it was announced to have come under the umbrella of the African First Ladies’ Peace Mission. Sometimes, what’s announced for public consumption is just exactly that – official statement for public consumption. This writer had since concluded that Nigeria’s resources largely made those donations possible, and perceptive Saharawi people didn’t take that AFLPM chip to heart either. Like this writer, they knew Nigeria’s drive through its First Lady made the donations to displaced people in their country available. And what’s more, no other African nation had a representative on a delegation that had ensured Saharawi people present at the hand-over of donations had abundant supply of Jonathan’s pictures to wave. Moreover, the Sahara Press Service of the Saharawi Republic captioned its report of the visit thus: “Nigerian ministerial delegation visits Saharawi Republic”. Then, it went on: “A Nigerian ministerial delegation, led by the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory Ms. Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, arrived…in the Saharawi refugee camps, as part of a solidarity visit to the Saharawi Republic”. Akinjide, Sahara Press Service further reported, was assisted by “a number of (the) Nigerian President’s advisors for woman affairs, Nigerian ambassador in Algiers, prominent female personalities, and some members of the Nigerian Relief Agency…The delegation will deliver a set of humanitarian aid provided by Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, to the Saharawi National Union of Women…They will visit some Saharawi state’s institutions in Chahid Al Hafed, Saharawi refugee camps. They will conclude their one-day solidarity visit by holding a meeting with the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz.” Now, the words “Saharawi Republic” always catch the attention of this writer who, long before he was 10 years old, had been a keen listener to news reports of struggle for independence from colonial rule across the African continent. Along with the militant activities of the Murtala/Obasanjo administration against white supremacists in Southern Africa, Western Sahara as Saharawi Republic was then known was always mentioned and hardly would a week pass without Nigeria’s activities on decolonisation within the then Organisation of African Unity framework being given prominence on the nation’s radio and TV stations. Over the years, one had rejoiced at the news of victory for former colonies in Southern Africa, but had been saddened that Western Sahara would go on to exchange the departure of Spain (in 1975) for that of Morocco which sent in its troops, laying claim to parts of the territory. For long, Morocco won’t let go, engaging in struggle with the freedom fighters known as the Polisario Front, and disregarding the African Union’s affirmation of the right to rule themselves of a people that had declared their independence under the name, Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic. Initially, 85 states recognised the Saharawi Republic as of 2014. But 39 of these have since “withdrawn” recognition for different reasons. A total of 40 states currently maintain diplomatic relations with the country but it has embassies in 18 states. It’s not recognised by the United Nations, but has held full membership of the AU since 1984. Morocco withdrew from the AU in protest of this recognition and it’s backed by the Arab League. Though Nigeria’s contact with the Saharawi Republic is long, (its ambassador is in Abuja), a Nigerian delegation going with a donation to such a country that’s undergoing a travail had sounded to this writer too good to be true, magical even, and it had left one somewhat excited. The reason is simple: One didn’t see just a donation from Nigeria, rather one had seen an instrument for foreign policy, a means of making valuable friends, of planting Nigeria’s feet firmly in one other brother African country. This writer chooses to discountenance the AFLPM tag on this donation, naturally, and every Nigerian should. For this is how Nigeria’s resources go into ECOWAS and AU efforts and nations that don’t lift a finger get the glory, or even go ahead to show disrespect to Nigeria. That Nigeria’s funds made the donations to the people of the Saharawi Republic possible, and Nigerians travelled to deliver them are enough to make one dream; to dream about Nigerian foreign policymakers that should see more than mere donation of gifts in the Saharawi Republic. For this is part of the challenge the foreign policy establishment here has – so much resources being given out without developing a clear strategy of how to make the resources count for Nigeria in one form or the other. That’s one point. The other point is that, true, Jonathan was given an award on behalf of Nigerians by ECOWAS days back for their tireless contribution to bringing peace to some troubled West African countries. Yet, one can be justified in expressing exasperation about a Nigeria which refuses to boldly step forward and draw all benefits, tangibly and intangibly, from the resources it expends on the continent. An example was how Nigeria’s funds went into the donations made to the Saharawi Republic but equivalent noise about this was not made on that occasion. For instance, even if the AFLPM umbrella was mentioned, nothing stops the nation from tagging whatever its resources made available as part of the donation. “Gifts from the People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” could have been printed on the bags of rice, milk, sugar and the rest of whatever was Nigeria’s contribution, the same way the United States of America, China and Japan always tag whatever they donate on the African continent. That such is not done is something this writer considers as unnecessary modesty on a boisterously competitive international stage where nations expend men and materials, and they don’t let anyone forget it. The effect of leaving memories with recipients of Nigeria’s kindness isn’t little; it lasts long, inscribing Nigeria in the minds of the younger generation who will grow up cherishing a nation that has assisted them. But this piece will yet move on to cement that point. In the course of Jonathan’s recent visit to Namibia, did any Nigerian see Namibians showing so much enthusiasm, thanking Nigeria for assisting them when the war of independence was raging? Then, that Nigerian will appreciate the insult in how South Africa largely ignores Nigeria in spite of its assistance in the years that the African National Congress was in the jungle and South Africa’s future leaders such as Thabo Mbeki enjoyed Nigeria’s hospitality in Lagos. This is one error Nigeria needs to ensure doesn’t repeat itself, and the Saharawi Republic provides a test ground. Meanwhile, what Nigeria is doing under the tag, AFLPM, is good. That trip to the Saharawi Republic wasn’t the first. At the AFLPM’s 7th summit in Abuja in 2012, Their Excellencies had adopted the plan to address conflict prevention and resolution in Africa. One item in the plan covers “protection of women and children in conflict zones.” This had led to the freighting of relief materials to Mali, Kenya, Sierra Leone and lately the Saharawi Republic. More African countries are listed to be visited. Mrs. Jonathan’s involvement in all of that, her push with Nigeria’s resources and whatever may come from donors means this is one maneuver the foreign policy establishment cannot watch and treat casually. This activity should be streamlined and made one of Nigeria’s instruments of foreign policy. For nations that know the importance of extending their circle of influence don’t treat any foreign involvement with levity. And in a world where resources to spare for others are becoming scarcer to come by, one can only hope Nigeria’s foreign policymakers get the point and take necessary action
Posted on: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 11:40:17 +0000
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