President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) has come under a barrage of criticism from a section of the Nigerian public, especially those that were not favoured at the polls, during the last general elections in the country. They contend that the president travels too often at government expense, and that he should have left the incessant journeys outside the shores of the country to the minister of Foreign Affairs as well as other such ministers or top government functionaries that are most suitable at any given point in time. They further contend that Mr. President should spend quality time in the country, to attend to the manifold challenges that is currently plaguing the polity.
However, the point must be made that at over 70 years of age, the president does not enjoy junketing from one part of the globe to another just for the fun of it; he is an austere man, used to a Spartan and disciplined lifestyle. But the damage that has been done to the country’s political economy and global image is so enormous and ubiquitous that allowing top government officials alone do global travels, discussions and negotiations will not achieve the desired result. Indeed, it is the personal integrity and credibility of PMB as an honest, upright and straightforward political figure and leader that the country is not only leveraging on, but also many foreign governments and investors have confidence and assurance in him, and want to have business to do with the country.
There is no new mendacity anyone can use to cajole the international community; they know Nigeria and her leaders too well and their ways of doing things. In fact, Nigeria has over the years become the standard and yardstick for measuring how bad things are done. Therefore, not only does the international community have implicit confidence in PMB, they respect him and are willing to assist him to bail out the country from its prevailing travails. This is noticeable in all the trips he has made, and of course, he does not draw foreign travel allowance from them. The importance of the trips made by PMB is exemplified in the fact that,
First it is the fallout of one of the trips PMB made that convinced the United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA) and other Western countries to resolve to return all stolen money from Nigeria in their possession back to the country. In fact, UK promised to seize the properties of corrupt Nigerian politicians and give the funds back to the country.
Second it is from the trip of PMB to United Arab Emirate (UAE) that Dubai has decided that her territory will no longer be a haven for slush funds from Nigeria. And, the country is even willing to return all stolen funds and seize property of corrupt politicians in the Middle East country and return them to Nigeria.
Third PMB has repeatedly stated in international fora that corruption is a hydra-headed monster must be jointly and collectively tackled, an assertion that world leaders have come to agree with and also adopted. To this end, they have agreed that their respective territories will no longer be a comfort zone for stolen funds.
Fourth it is because of PMB’s shuttle diplomacy with Nigeria’s immediate neighbours that, there is a common front to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in the sub-region. Today, in Nigeria, Boko Haram terrorists have been rendered impotent; they no longer control any part of the Nigerian territory and in a similar vein, the menace of the so-called Fulani herdsman would soon be eclipsed.
Fifth it was as a result of his travels and meetings that the World Bank is willing to give back to the country, the whopping sum of $350 million as well as made commitment to inform Nigeria about other looted funds that the country was not previously aware of, which is a welcome development.
Sixth once upon a time, Nigeria that used to be a pariah country amongst the comity of nation is fast recovering her lost glory, as the world now knows that the country has a leader who understands and appreciates the meaning of transparency, probity and accountability in governance, and is doing everything humanly possible to stamp out graft from every facet of the country.
Seventh it is also because of the president’s international engagements that the Sino-Nigeria relations received huge boost and China made profound and categorical commitment to give Nigeria loans tied to specific projects and infrastructural development in different parts of the country. The Naira and Yuan also have close working economic relationship as China promised to increase her volume of trade to Nigeria as well as assist in the area of human capital development. A number of bilateral trade agreements were also signed by the two governments and businesses and private concerns from both countries.
Eight it is because things are gradually picking up in the country, world leaders trust and have faith in PMB such that they gladly invite him to their countries for global leaders meetings/conferences and world stakeholders forum because they are positively disposed towards Nigeria and are ready to engage her.
Ninth, it is also important to note that the foreign trips by PMB are not just a one way affair. The president of Nigeria has equally received high profile visitors into the country since he assumed the mantle of leadership, which has in turn improved the investment status of the country. This is predicated on the principle of reciprocity in global affairs.
Last, but not in any way the least, is the fact that France has returned artefacts (Nok Terracotta) illegally exported from Nigeria.
There is no way any group of high ranking government officials could have achieved this feat within the shortest time possible, without the president showing his face.
Besides, not to have honoured invitations extended to PMB by foreign governments and world leaders could be tantamount to standoffishness, cold-shoulders, outright insult, affront or even a-slap-in-the-face in the highly murky and slippery global politics, which will invariably give Nigeria undue attention for very wrong reasons in the international arena. Therefore, it is for the immense benefit of the country that PMB is travelling out of the country when it is necessary, working relentlessly round-the-clock to take care of both domestic needs and external demands, as he deems fit and appropriate for the country after years of merciless pillage and utter mismanagement by the same group of elite that is now getting miffed by these travels.
But why the resentment, huff and umbrage by these set of people against the president? First, it is as a result of the shallow understanding of the dynamics of the present situation of the country and what it really takes to resolve the multifaceted Nigerian contradictions. Second, it is a red-herring to divert the attention and prying eyes of the public away from the atrocities and economic crime as well as graft of the immediate past, they also want to continue to be relevant in the political scheme of things in the country.
Third, is the fact that those who are criticizing PMB for his trips have forgotten that he was elected on a dual mandate. He has a reliable and dependable Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, who according to the 1999 constitution sees to the economy. Therefore, whenever the president is out of the country, the Vice President fills in the gap, because there is mutual trust, understanding and respect between the two of them.
Fourth, the reality is that the foundation of the Nigerian state has been destroyed by the avaricious and predatory politicians, with some even claiming to be richer than the country. Therefore, PMB is very meticulous about the handling of Nigeria foreign relations and engagements not to commit errors of any sort, at a time, when the country is struggling hard to get things right. But these people want the present government to fail, so that, they can get back to the looting spree.
So, rather than resort to blind criticism with selfish motives, these people should look at the larger picture and see PMB as a man who is on a rescue mission. If the past administration had given the people of Nigeria a fair deal, there would not have been any need for a change, but they thoroughly messed up things and behaved as if there would be no tomorrow. PMB is trying to lay a new foundation and put the country on a sound footing; the journey is not going to be easy, neither is it going to be palatable, but the people must be rest assured that gradually and steadily Nigeria will surely get to the promise-land.
Written by Jide Ayobolu.
