This Day, Nigeria
Obama's Choice to
Visit Ghana and Not Nigeria Should Be a Lesson to Us
"Nigerian
leadership is gradually diminishing on a continent that it has not only
dominated on many issues, but has helped stabilize and organize by offering financial
and moral support. … Disappointing as the America's decision is, what it
suggests is that Nigeria should stop sulking over the neglect it has suffered
and work on its obvious deficiencies."
EDITORIAL
June 3, 2009
Nigeria - This Day - Original Article (English)
Ordinarily, the choice of
what country the president of the United States visits is the prerogative of
him as well as his diplomatic advisers. It should therefore generate little or
no controversy. But given the prevailing circumstances, President Obama's
decision to visit three African countries: Egypt, South Africa and Ghana, and
not Nigeria, naturally stirs curiosity.
It should be curious to the
people of a nation famed as the giant of Africa, with the largest Black
population in the world; with tremendous economic potential, a key supplier of
crude oil to the U.S., and a nation once counted by America as a pillar for
development in impoverished Africa.
Between July 10 and 11,
President Obama will be paying his first visit to Africa - to Ghana - since
being sworn in. Indeed, why did President Obama choose to ignore Nigeria,
preferring a country like Ghana?
There is no doubt that the
president’s visit has great political significance, denominated by the
diplomatic rebuff of Nigeri
a. This is the first U.S.
president with African blood visiting "home" for the first time, so
the countries he chooses to visit are crucial in terms of their diplomatic
weight. It would even blaze a trail for foreign investment and tourism, both of
which Nigeria desperately needs.
NIGERIA
GHANA
Against this backdrop, some
Nigerians are expressing concern over the diplomatic signal America is sending.
It reinforces beliefs in some quarters that Nigerian leadership is gradually
diminishing on a continent that it has not only dominated on many issues, but
has helped stabilize and organize by offering financial and moral support.
While in Ghana, Obama will
hold talks with President Attah
Mills on a wide range of bilateral and regional issues. No doubt such an
opportunity will have tremendous spin-offs for an economy battling to
stabilize, just as is Nigeria’s. That all the more reason why Nigeria should
feel concerned about America's cold shoulder.
Although the White House has
given (and need give no) explanation for the choice of Ghana over Nigeria, the
elite reading is that Nigeria’s fate in this circumstance may have been due to
recent democratic shortcomings and fraud.
Posted
by WORLDMEETS.US
Disappointing as the
America’s decision is, what it suggests is that Nigeria should stop sulking
over the neglect it has suffered and work on its obvious deficiencies. At least
now it's clear now that the perception of a country by the global community is
of great importance.
Nigeria still has the chance
to re-position itself in the continental leadership role it deserves. More than
anything else, the Obama visit to Africa should serve as a wake-up call for
Nigerian leaders.
To dismiss the significance
of Obama's choice of Ghana over Nigeria, as some officials in government are
wont to do, isn't helpful. That would be tragic for a nation that in just a
year will be marking its golden jubilee. Even in African culture, it matters a
great deal to a home or community when it hosts an august visitor.
[Posted
by WORLDMEETS.US June 18,4:14am]
