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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)

Campaign poster of John Atta Mills, who won his recent presidential election run by two percentage points. He was inaugurated January 7, less than two weeks before President Obama. For his nation of Ghana, President Obama's visit is being seen as a boon, but many Nigerians regard it as a snub.

 

BBC NEWS VIDEO: A South Africa human rights lawyer offers advice to President Obama, Jan. 7, 00:02:21WindowsVideo

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]