Princewill Odidi|7 December 2015|7:29pm
As mainstream observers of the emerging foreign policy framework Buhari's administration will adopt,
I am actually lost as most public opinion stakeholders at best, Nigeria's foreign policy at most is still ambiguous.
As we all know, International trends shapes foreign policy of nations. In the 1960s to early 1980s we focused on an Afro-Centric policy as a means of ending colonial rule and apartheid. Some of our best
ambassadors were sent to African Countries just to promote this policy framework. Early 80s and 90s, in the peak of the Cold war, our foreign policy was pro-Western, this led to the introduction of IMF/World bank and eventual devaluation of our currency a situation we have not
been able to overcome two decades later.
Today, it is no gainsaying that our foreign policy is focused on the war of terror in which we are paying
our own price with domestic Boko Haram and internationally ISIS.
What then should define our foreign policy in this era? Are we going to lean towards pro-American, pro-Western Europe, pro-NATO, pro-Israel and pro-rational choice foreign policy or are we going to be
pro-Russia, pro-Iran, pro-Syria and pro-radical forces most of whom assert pro-self determination even at the cost of fundamental human rights? Or we may decide to take a third line of foreign policy spearheaded by the Chinese based on "let sleeping lie".
This policy is based on "let every nation mind her own business and make economic friends first before any other alliances". China is a dominant player in this concept.
China is friendly with the West and NATO, but at the same time, China is engaging Russia in some military strategic relations. I would recommend the Chinese non-aligned model, but do we have the
International political will to do a "stand alone foreign policy?" Or maybe we should think about an isolationist policy like North Korea. But can we survive international military and economic isolationism
amidst our domestic fight with Boko Haram?
International relations is more of a game. You need a team, a coach, spectators who believe in your cause and most important, to be an active player in this game, when you take sides you have to win your matches. While I would suggest that Nigeria goes pro-Western in her foreign policy approach, at the same time we should asset our "big brother" status in Africa. But what is most important, do we have the
resources to play big brother status in Africa? Whichever way we decide to follow, we should always remember, in this games that nations play, the friend of your friend is your friend, the enemy of your enemy is your enemy. The spectators and supporters of your friends will cheer you during your own games, fights and battles.
In this games that nations play, what is more important is that you have to win.
Princewill Odidi
Is an Atlanta based social commentator. princewillodidi@yahoo.com
