MERE DIPLOMATIC CRAFTSMANSHIP CAN’T PROJECT A COUNTRY ABOVE THE LEVEL OF HER ACTUAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT – TOBY OKECHUKWU



Dr Tayo Aduloju and Rt Hon Nnenna Ukeje
Abuja: Rt. Hon Toby Okechukwu has asserted that, “No amount of diplomatic craftsmanship can make a country to successfully project her image significantly above the level of her real time socio-economic and political development circumstance”
The Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and Member representing Aninri/Awgu and Oji River Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives made the assertion on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering his welcome address at the Public Presentation of the book, “Reflections on Nigeria’s Foreign Policy 1960–2020”
According to him, “The book we are about to unveil today –“Reflections on Nigeria’s Foreign Policy, 1960-2020” – is the product of our modest efforts to critically examine in chronological order, the leading variables that have asserted their salience in shaping Nigeria’s official stances and responses to forces on the foreign scene.

“Accordingly, we have tried to reflect on the impact of internal and external factors, such as colonialism, the personality of leaders, the level of development, the press, regime type, international organizations, non-alignment, cold war, terrorism and globalization.
“The nagging issue of Nigeria’s shrinking voice in critical diplomatic circles may also be appreciated vis-à-vis contemporary socio-economic challenges at home. But then a robust tradition of diplomatic engagement will not only ameliorate this but would also garner a reasonable level of image prestige.
“Again, this speaks to the integrity of institutions and their ability to withstand pressure.The country must make all efforts to industrialize, keep pace with the present global technological innovations, genuinely democratize by permitting her citizens the fundamental human rights they desire and strive to enjoy. Nigeria will only achieve these feats if her leadership is focused on achieving national interest and not self-centered interest based on ethno-religious identities and partisanship.
“This is why the nation must also institutionalize her core national values, philosophy and culture that will act as a compass for good leadership. This will help the nation to see national interest through the prism of core national values. The country needs to reposition her foreign policy strategy to meet up the current international realities, if it must be taken seriously among the comity of nations.

The vibrant legislator cum erudite summed up his submission in a statement Socrates himself would be proud of:
“All said, no amount of diplomatic craftsmanship can make a country to successfully project her image significantly above the level of her real time socio-economic and political development circumstance. Therefore, a focus on development issues is key in building a strong and influential voice in regional, continental and global affairs.”
That set the tone of the occasion as all other speakers concurred with his patriotic assertion that “Nigeria cannot have an effective foreign policy or strong image globally, if it remains bedeviled by a weak economy and insecurity domestically”.
Other special guests at the event held at the spectacular Musa Yar’adua Centre include His Excellency, Rt. Hon Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi, Executive Governor of Enugu State, represented by Hon Cornelius Nnaji, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, CFR, PhD, Former Deputy Senate President and PDP Governorship aspirant in Enugu State, Mr Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and PDP Presidential aspirant and Amb. Gab Aduda, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Others include AVM Chris Chukwu, Rtd, Gen. Chris Abutu Garba, Rtd, Senator Uche Ekwunife, Senator Dino Melaye, etc.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, His Excellency, Amb. Aminu Wali Bashir, Nigeria’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Permanent Representative to the UN.
Ambassador Wali, observed that foreign policy was what binds a country to maintain the dignity and importance of its people in terms of relationship with other countries.
In his address, His Excellency, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives commended Okechukwu, who referred to as a “brother and an ally” for taking time off his legislative duties to co-author such a timely and highly cerebral book.
“Nigeria must establish values that defines its terms of engagement with other countries to address different manifestations of challenges.
Mr Femi Gbajabiamila explained that the 9th House of Representatives had adopted parliamentary diplomacy to intervene successfully in foreign relations between Nigeria and other countries such as during the South African Xenophobic attacks against Nigerians resident in that country.
The Speaker who described the foreign policy as the major principle that guides the activities and relations of one state with others, especially in the areas of trade, defense and non-interference policies maintained that Nigeria must take the right direction in other to succeed.
In a lighter mood, he welcomed “the representative of “our political adversary”, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party”
Gbajabiamila asserted that, “A country’s foreign policy is determined by the country’s needs and self interest. It is “Selfish Interest”
Also, panelists on the Panel Discussion with the topic, “Nigeria’s Foreign Policy in a changing world” variously agreed with Okechukwu, that Nigeria’s weakness on the domestic scene was inhibiting her greatness on the global stage as “you cannot give what you don’t have”
The panelists were Rt. Hon Linda Ikpeazu, former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Prof Saleh Dauda, Professor of International Relations, University of Abuja and Dr. Tayo Adeloju, Chief Operating Officer/Senior Fellow, Economic Policy, Strategy and Competitiveness, Nigerian Economic Summit Group.
In her own submission, Rt Hon Ukeje said that Nigerians were more concerned about fuel scarcity, epileptic power supply and insecurity instead of discussions on “Ukraine or Nigeria’s foreign policy”
“If you can’t protect your citizens at home, how can you talk of promoting your interest abroad?” Ukeje queried.
“Nigeria’s Foreign Policy is being inhibited three major domestic problems, namely ; weak institutions, weak economy and insecurity”
In his own submission, Dr Adeloju said that as Nigerians, “We’re big on the promises we make outside but very poor in putting our own house in order”
The book reviewer, the ebulliently cerebral Prof Udenta O. Udenta, was at his usual best as he dissected the book which he referred to as an “opus magnum” and a “locus classicus” in the field of Nigerian Foreign Affairs.
He bemoaned the situation whereby Nigeria, based on her “Afrocentric” foreign policy spends so much on Peace keeping missions all over Africa without gaining anything in return.
“Once Nigeria pulls out from any African country on Peace keeping, other countries go in for post conflict reconstruction.
“The US can never do that. In Iraq, they bartered Iraqi oil to pay for post war reconstruction which they awarded to American contractors.
“In Ukraine, they will still do the same. All the monies and resources hey are send to Ukraine will have be recovered, in full. They ain’t Free”
In his own words, AVM Chris Chukwu, Rtd, one of the All time greatest fighter pilots ever produced by the Nigerian Airforce had this s to say; “I’m here to support my representative in the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Toby Okechukwu for being a worthy representative.
“Personally, I attest to his superlative representation, both in terms of legislative productivity and constituency projects. I have witnessed his impactful constituency projects in my own town, Nenwe in Aninri, Local Government Area of Enugu State”
Okechukwu, who holds an MBA from the then Anambra State University of Technology, an LLB from the University of Lagos in 2000 and B. L. from the Nigerian Law School in 2001, as well as Executive Program certificates from John Hopkins University and London School of Economics, co-authored with Emmanuel Ukhami, who has an M. Sc. in Defence and Strategic Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and Tony Onyishi, a professor Public Administration at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and much an adjunct Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Abuja.