CHAPTER ONE
1.0Introduction
Foreign policy has become a useful component that defines
relations between and amongst states. Generally, we may say, a country‟s
foreign policy thrust bottles the totality of the acts, strategies and
manipulations by a given state in her process of launching her domestic
resolve in the international arena. Chibundu (2003:1) crisply notes that
foreign policy is “a country‟s response to the world outside or beyond
its own frontiers or boundaries. Such response may indeed be friendly or
aggressive, casual or intense, simple or complex, but it is always
there.” This means that the said „response‟ which critically requires a
dependable and accurate means of attainment has a vital quality. That is
why it is generally accepted, both in theory and practice, that in
relations with one another, nations should vigorously pursue their
national interests and seek to protect it at whatever cost. Certainly, a
nation‟s foreign policy is the political instrument or technical
framework upon which it pursues its domestic interest. To be clear,
Morgenthau (1973) asserts that “no nation can have a true guide as to
what it needs to do in foreign policy without accepting national
interest as a basic guide.” If this is to be likened to the Nigerian
scenario, for example, then, the overall concern should be focused upon
those parameters of Nigeria‟s core values that constitute essential
components of her foreign policy. Therefore, it is important to
contemplate: Do various Nigerian leaders consider the country‟s national
interest at all, in the pursuit of foreign policy thrusts?
It is worth mentioning, herein, that since the First
Republic, Nigeria‟s foreign policy has been largely Afro-centric in
posture. Take for instance, in an official statement just before
independence, on August 20, 1960, Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, at the
Federal House of Assembly stated that Nigeria was, “adopting clear and
practical policies with regard to Africa; it will be our aim to assist
any country to find solution to its problem” (Tafawa, 1960:3).
Similarly, one significant event that took place under late General
Ironsi‟s regime was the June 1966 Ambassadors‟ Conference, held in Lagos
to re-examine the premises and directions of Nigeria‟s foreign policy.
Among other issues ironed out, the conference re-dedicated Nigeria‟s
external outlook to the total emancipation of all African territories
still under colonial tutelage and racial discrimination. This position
was further reinforced when General Ironsi persuaded everyone into the
assumption that, „in the whole sphere of external relations, the
government attaches greatest importance to our African policy‟ (cited in
Al-Hassan, 2008:7). It was under the above foreign policy directions,
mainly, that the Nigerian state delicately ventured into the complex
theatre of international relations in the first place (Asobie, 1990:13).
This position could be better appreciated when we consider the fact
that successive regimes in the country accorded significant attention to
Africa as the centre-piece of Nigerian foreign policy.
Whatever had been the case, definitely, we may have to adjust
our mindsets towards the understanding that nation-states all over the
world necessarily design and implement foreign policies in order to
guide their external relations as well as protect, promote and defend
their vital national interests (Aluko, 1981:9). In content therefore, a
cluster of areas such as defense of territorial integrity, the promotion
of economic, military, strategic and diplomatic interests and whatever a
country might consider as its vital national interest appear germane
(Ogwu, 2005:19). It is therefore naturally expected that Nigeria‟s
foreign policy too, ought to be fundamentally guided by her national
interest, which should ordinarily serve to either justify or repudiate
the country‟s action or inaction in her foreign relations (Akindele,
2003:33).
However and seemingly, at a point when it became very glaring
that such conventional orientation of thrusting Nigeria‟s external
behaviour upon frivolous magnanimity, or say, unrewarding love for her
African neighbours, has emptily translated into political bunkum, the
emergent democratic leadership redirected the entire focus of the
country‟s foreign policy. Former President Obasanjo, for instance, being
so apprehensive of the excruciating economic condition of the country,
and more so, of the shallowness of the Nigerian purse for such
flamboyant or philanthropic role of „giant of Africa,‟ made a
progressive change and overwhelmingly refocused the country‟s external
attention. According to Ogwu (2005:25), this foreign policy arrangement
was built upon „economic diplomacy.‟Put differently, the plank of this
administration‟s foreign policy became shuttle diplomacy. First and
foremost, the Obasanjo regime devoted or dissipated political energy
wooing foreign partners into the country, for national development.
Indeed, it was such a personal task which Obasanjo took upon himself, to
navigate and rummage through Western countries either begging world
leaders for aids or enticing them to come and invest in Nigeria. In
fact, Obasanjo was more or less hanging out with world leaders, and
snapping too many pictures. It was on this diplomatic page that the
frequency of these trips got so bad that “According to official sources,
the President, as at mid August 2002, travelled out of the country for
one hundred and thirteen times since he took over the leadership of the
country at the end of May in 1999, and that as at June 2002, he had been
out of Nigeria altogether for a period of 340 days” (Akindele, 2003:3).
In other words, in a period of three years, the President has been out
of the country for a period of a year less two weeks. This development
does not only climax the emphatic value attached to the regime of
“Economic diplomacy,” but more so, the magnitude effort invested in
achieving a turnaround thereto.
More importantly, however, President Yar‟Adua‟s
Administration made a radical and positivist step toward something very
unique and so different – citizenship diplomacy. This foreign policy
thrust was directed towards the enhancement of the country‟s citizens
world over. This research therefore evaluates the level of political
will and relevant actions invested in the implementation of the foreign
policy thrust of „citizenship diplomacy‟ in the context of Nigeria‟s
relations with the outside world during President Yar‟Adua‟s
Administration. In other words, scholarly effort is made to associate
the minimal success or near failure of citizenship diplomacy with the
challenges of Yar‟Adua‟s incapacitation in office. Put differently, the
nagging health issues that critically challenged Yar‟Adua functional
authority/capacity and/or legitimacy in office are significantly
identified as causative factors that generated widespread loss of focus,
distraction and practical inhibition to concrete commitments toward the
successful implementation and subsequent attainment of the basic goals
of citizenship diplomacy.
1.1 Background to the Study
The Personality of an individual plays an important role in
determining aNation-State Foreign Policy. There is no gain saying the
fact if thepersonality of a Decision-maker is not studied it would be
difficult tounderstand the rationale behind some rules and decisions.
Scholars of old and even present scholars have studied the personality
of powerfulleaders of old in order to understand the reason why some
policy werecarried out while others were not, leaders of old like Adolf
Hitler, JosephStalin, Mao Tse Tung, Kim Il Sung and a host of others
were analysed inorder to understand the rationale behind some decisions.
Some peoplefail to realise that laws are not made by the state itself
but by certainindividuals in positions of authority, for a law or
decision that isattributed to a state to be really understood, the
people behind such lawsshould be analysed. The successes or failures of a
particular regime inauthority are attributed to the type of person in
position of authority.For Nigeria’s foreign policy under the leadership
of Umaru Yar’adua to be analysed, the personality of the president would
be analysed; thepresident was referred as a too slow to act and
incapable of performingthe complex function of running the Nigerian
state. Nigeria’s foreignpolicy statement under the immediate past
president of Nigeria would beanalysed in order to understand the role
the personality of its pastpresident in performing his functions.
1.2 Statement of Problem
The personality of Nigeria’s immediate past president in the person
of Umaru Yar’adua played an important role in his foreign policy
statementand this had a negative impact in promoting the interest of the
Nigerianstate in the International scheme of things. Nigeria was
referred as a“toothless bulldog” due to the inability of the Nigerian
president incarrying out his functions when it came to foreign
relations.
1.3 Objectives of Study
This study seeks to analyse the relationship between the personality
of President Umaru Yar’Adua and his foreign policy statements and
administration. It aims tounderstand if the personality of Nigeria’s
Yar’adua had a role to play inhis policy statements and objectives.
i. To review the late presidents Yar’aduaadministration on the foreign policy.
ii. To examine the performance of his administration
iii. To identify the impact of his administration on Nigerian
1.4 Research Questions
For the purpose of this research work, relevant research question
have been outlined to serve as a directional guide and articulation of
theresearch findings or work.However, these questions focus more on the
major problems to beinvestigated and could possibly lead to other minor
research questions insubsequent research works. The following are
relevant and essentialinstructive to this research work:-
i. What are the major policy implemented by the late president Yar'adua to the country Nigeria?
ii. What is the significance of his policy to the economy of the nation Nigeria?
iii. In comparison with other president administration on
foreign policy whose administration can be seen with more effectiveness
to the economy of the country
1.6 Significance of the Study
The level of Nigeria’s prominence in International Affairs especially
inthe African continent has dwindled, and this happened during
theemergence of Umaru Yar’adua as Nigeria’s president.There is no better
time for this research work to be written than thispoint in time in
which the fortunes of the Nigerian state when it comes toInternational
relations is in shambles.This research work is being written in a
crucial period of this democraticdispensation, the timing is apt as the
present government is determinedto tackle the deep rooted problems.
1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study
This research work would cover areas in which the Nigeria’s past
president late president Yar'adua was administered on foreign policy and
how it affected the foreign relationscapability of the Nigerian state.
This research work subject to some limitations and the major one is
being that of time, the time frame of the research work is short; and
alsothe non-availability of materials is also a limiting factor in
writing thisresearch work.
1.8 Research Methodology
This research work would adopts qualitative descriptive method of
data collection and analysis. And make use of secondary method of
datacollection. Content analysis would be made use of, especially
theInternet.
1.9 Definition of Key Terms
THE STATE
States is defined as political units that exercise ultimate
internalauthority and that recognize no legitimate external authority
over them(Anifowoshe, 1999). States are the most recognized and revered
of ourpolitical organizations. States are also the most powerful of all
politicalactors, whether large or small, rich or poor, populous or
scanty, statesshare all or most characteristics sovereignty, territory,
population,international organization and domestic support.
FOREIGN POLICY
This is a course of action or a set of principles adopted by a
nation’sgovernment to define it relations with other countries or groups
of countries (Saleh, 2003). A country’s foreign policy also set forth
itspositions on a wide range of international issues. Little wonder why
Reynolds defines foreign policy as a range of actions taken with
referenceto external situation and domestic factors.
POLICY
Fredrick (1963) defined policy as a proposed course of action of
persons,a group, or government within a given environment proving
obstacles and opportunities which the policy was proposed to utilize and
overcomein an effort to reach a goal or realize an objective or a
purpose. The twoessential features of this definition are course of
action and goal orobjectives. These are essential elements of every
policy.
DIPLOMACY
Diplomacy had been defined as the management of
internationalrelations by negotiations the method by which these
relations areadjusted or managed by ambassadors and envoys, the business
or act of the diplomat. Implicit in this definition is the fact that
the internationalsystem is far from being. Perfect and this arises out
of the competingdemands which nation states make on it.