By Paul Arhewe , Online/Foreign Editor
LAST WEEK, Nigerian Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan, embarked on a four-day trip to Washington where he spent two days with other leaders from 47 countries in a Nuclear Security Summit organised by U.S. President Barrack Obama. He also had the opportunity to engage in a 15-minute chat with the American leader.
Comments from many quarters see this development as a significant impetus, which is a bolster on our hitherto passive relations to events at the international scene, especially as no remarkable meeting with renowned international leaders from the West was held by the administration of ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua.
Last Thursday, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Odein Ajumogobia, as he rightly acknowledge, the Jonathan trip to U.S. was very successful and would accrue immense benefits to Nigerians at home and those in diaspora. His words: “it was a very successful visit and I think it is important that Nigeria engages with the world again”. “I think we did so in a very open and successful way”. Jonathan in his trip had the opportunity to meet other America figures like Vice President Joe Biden, the World bank President, and was a special guest speaker at the Center for Global development (CGD) in Washington.
Though, many people are of the view that the time the Acting President spent in discussing with Obama was not enough to make a meaningful discuss, nevertheless the significance of the meeting is that more avenues and opportunities for Nigeria and the United States to cooperate in mutual economic, political and other basic areas of interest would continue to unfold.
Amusingly, a commentator in the Independent Newspapers website argued that “since President Yar’Adua was not availed the opportunity to meet Obama for a minute, Jonathan that was able to converse with him in 15 minutes, this indeed is an improvement”.
The U.S. and Nigeria share some traditional positive bilateral relations that are based on mutual efforts toward development and peace. Nigeria has played important role in regional and global peacekeeping exercises, a front-role in ensuring peace reign in Africa. Despite this great achievement the country has carved a niche for itself over the years in its foreign engagements, last year Obama visited some African countries, by-passed Nigeria and visited her neighbour Ghana. That event put pay to that fact that the Obama-led administration was not really moved in forming cordial ties with our then government under Yar’Adua, which Jonathan was deputising. Events, since his assumption in office have indicated that Yar’Adua is not favourably disposed to partaking at events in the international scene. This is displayed when last year he preferred to embark on a trip to Saudi Arabia to observe the inauguration of an education institution than attending a United Nations summit.
U.S.-Nigeria bilateral relation in past years especially during the military regimes had suffered strained ties. It was not until in July, 2006 that Nigerian airlines resumed direct flights to U.S. after a decade ban by America on direct flights between the two countries due to the excesses of the military rules in the 80s and 90s. Though, in terms of economic tie, there has been proportional growth over the years in economic ties between the two countries, when compared to what others foreign countries share with the African giant. U.S. has since taken over as the major importer of crude oil from Nigeria, where it is the fifth largest supplier of crude to the American country. For instance, according to Energy Department data in December 2009, U.S. bought about one million barrels of oil a day from Nigeria. As at last year, Nigeria was the 14th largest goods trading partner of the U.S. with $42.2 billion in two-way goods trade for 2008.
There abound many gains that would be accrued from the new-found wind in the sail of Nigeria-America relationship, from the offshoot of Jonathan’s four-day trip to U.S.
While on one hand, Jonathan has used the trip to stamp his authority and recognition of his administration by other country leaders, the visit of the Acting President to the Nuclear Security Summit indeed was an avenue to announce the comeback of Africa’s most populous country to happenings in the world arena.
The last year attempted Christmas Eve terror bombing on a Detroit-bound aircraft by a Nigerian youth, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, was indeed a big dent that culminated in straining the bilateral relations between the two countries. This did not only result in the enlisting of Nigeria in a terrorist watch list, but incurred a stiffen measures and checks against Nigerians travelling abroad, even a visa ban on our ministers to U.S. was threatened.
Jonathan’s visit to Washington, (even though the result should not be expected too sudden) no doubt would go a long way to make U.S. rethink its stance against Nigeria and propose to remove its name from country to be monitored against sponsoring terrorist, more especially as our Acting President has hinted the American leader of our progress with security measures in our international airports. Many analysts have emphasised on the economical effect of adding Nigeria to that terror list. In this regards, as U.S. reconsiders in lifting the blacklist on Nigeria, other Western countries would start to see her in a new light, and mete out fair treatments to Nigerians in their countries and engage her in positive bilateral relationships.
Obama has expressly shown his approval of Jonathan Acting Presidency, even before his recent trip to Washington. During the inauguration of Nigerian new Ambassador to U.S., Prof. Adebowale Adefuye, last month, the American leader declared his support for the ongoing reforms embarked by Jonathan with regards to strengthening democracy, improving the economy and restoring peace and security in Nigeria. Obama said “In this difficult time, we applaud Nigeria for taking steps to restore confidence in the country’s political system while adhering to democratic principles”.
“We are encouraged by Acting President Jonathan’s public promises to strengthen democratic reforms, improve the economic environment and address the ongoing violence and impunity seen in the Niger Delta and Jos”. “We look forward to supporting these efforts to improve the lives of all Nigerian citizens,” he said.
U.S., as the world leading democratic nation, is at the forefront in striving to sustain the democratic tenets in countries struggling in their embryonic democracies, like Nigeria.
In past decades, Nigeria has either had bones to grind with U.S. on issues pertaining to democracy, human rights, and corruption. Nigerian 2011 polls are now barely one year away, the U.S. has always joined other voices in calling for electoral reform and of recent joined in calling for the replacement of the incumbent Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Professor Maurice Iwu, who many have raised their voices against as a symbol for failed elections in the country.
Jonathan certainly, among his discuss with Obama would have touched on his administration proposed moves in ensuring a free and fair poll, and a cause for the world to believe his government is really out to make it right this time. The U.S. has always offered its support to ensuring that Nigeria next year’s elections are free and fair, and political institutions are strengthened to consolidate on our democracy.
No doubt, the gains from the Acting President’s visit to Washington have already started yielding early results. Last week, while Jonathan was having roundtable discussions with Obama and other world figures, Adefuye was hosted alongside with American Ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Renee Sanders, in the launch of U.S.-Nigeria Bi-national Commission by U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.
The Bi-national Commission among other benefits would among other benefits, is a forum to strengthen the democratic institutions that are germane to hold free and fair elections in Nigeria, especially as 2011 polls draw near. The commission will also promote regional cooperation in the country and also encourage development in key areas, particularly in Niger Delta. It will support Nigeria in its fight against corruption, strengthen its democracy and civil society. And lastly, the commission would also support the country in ensuring food security and agricultural development.
The Bi-national Commission through its governance group will first prepare for Nigeria’s 2011 polls, and put in place $25 million food-security initiative that will focus on supporting the country’s agribusiness, farmer cooperatives, access to markets and work on staple crop yields, Sanders said. The commission “represents the future of this strategic dialogue and provides the framework for us to discuss these key areas we share with Nigeria,” she added.
Indeed, Jonathan’s invitation to stand shoulder to shoulder with his counterpart’s from other countries, even in his acting capacity, is a proof that his leadership in Africa’s populous state is accepted by world leaders. The World Bank last week also commended the positive leadership qualities Jonathan is putting forth in his acting capacity, and thus gives its support for more developmental projects for the country.
While more and more of this general acceptance is rushing in, it is then a challenge on the Acting President and his government not to let Nigerians down, and the eagle eyes of the world that is waiting to see positive changes. Even if these changes come in terms of improvement in electricity supply and electoral reforms that would usher in legitimate government that come through Nigerians votes in 2011, then Jonathan would have successfully engraved his name on a platter of gold; of which Nigerians would remain ever grateful.
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