This is one piece I am most reluctant writing, lest its intent be misunderstood. One, you might have noticed that in spite of the fact that though international relations is my primary field of study, I have not written much here since the beginning of the crisis triggered by the designation of Nigeria as a CPC by the US.
I have only written one full-length article on the matter for the newspapers dealing with the matter from a different angle, one which I elected not to share on this platform for strategic reasons.
I am of the Akpabio school of thought that in a situation of this nature, we have to be careful what we say. That is even more important for leadership and public officials.
They have to be extra-cautious with who they engage with and more circumspect with what they say. It is not out of fear, but more of common sense and in tune with the spirit of international diplomacy, even if the Oga on the other side is as unconventional as they come with little or no understanding of the ethos and protocols of international diplomacy and the rules of international law.
I will get to the second reason I am reluctantly writing this at the end, but first to the meat of the matter.
I have been reporting and analysing international relations in the public arena for over 3 decades. Over this period, I have also been engaged in the formal study of the subject. On account of that, I am quite familiar with those who we can refer to as Nigeria’s foreign policy/relations Elite.
Interestingly, in the last few months, I have had the privilege of engaging with some of the former Foreign Affairs Ministers – Profs. Ibrahim Gambari, Bolaji Akinyemi, General Ike Nwachukwu, the current Minister (Yusuf Tuggar), as well as some of our ‘retired’ Diplomats and Academics in the field of international relations who have been involved in shaping Nigeria’s foreign policy.
Though these three distinguished Nigerians are in their 80s, I attest to their intellectual acuity, brilliance of thought and soundness of mind even in their old age. I experienced this first-hand, and it has been quite an experience learning from them.
But I must confess that I was a bit taken aback by the call from some commentators, well-meaning as they are, that the government should call on these men to help muster a resolution of the diplomatic crisis between Nigeria and America.
As much as I understand that the idea was about leveraging their clout, which no-one can fault, I couldn’t help but ask myself some questions. Is it that we have not been able to expand our foreign policy elite class beyond these men? Where is the successor-class to this highly esteemed generation of Nigeria’s foreign policy elite? Or is it the case that the media has not been able to onboard new generations of foreign policy elite?
Lest this is misunderstood, this is not to say that there is no place for our ‘Ancestors’ in shaping foreign policy, management of foreign relations, and even in defusing the diplomatic tension that has been generated by this needless crisis, but I really wonder about this obvious absence or lack of visibility of the next generation of Nigeria’s foreign policy elite.
Senator Babafemi Ojudu wrote a beautiful piece at the heart of which he made a strong case for the President to appoint Special Envoys to navigate through the current crisis.
His argument: “In moments of crisis, nations deploy their best — men and women of stature, credibility, and global acceptance — to convey their truth and win allies. Traditional diplomacy, constrained by bureaucracy and protocol, cannot match the pace and intensity of this storm. What is required now is shuttle diplomacy: nimble, high-level engagements with world leaders, policymakers, and influencers in Washington, London, Brussels, and Beijing.
Special envoys, appointed by the President, can move swiftly, speak frankly, and represent Nigeria’s moral and strategic interests with authority. Their mission: to clarify our position, correct misconceptions, prevent escalation, and reaffirm Nigeria’s sovereignty — without alienating our partners or surrendering our dignity.”
I agree with his recommendation that the President appoints Special Envoys, even as I am uneasy that it will lead to a sidetracking of the existing Foreign Affairs structure, an over concentration of power and a subsuming of the management of foreign affairs in an already stretched Presidency, which might backfire.
But my major area of concern is with some of the names proposed as Special Envoys, distinguished as they all are. Their stature and credibility are not in doubt, but I wonder about them being the best fit, if we are talking about nimbleness, a key requirement for shuttle diplomacy.
We need a new generation of foreign affairs elite properly trained and groomed, with a good understanding of the increasingly complicated multidimensional world, in which an unconventional approach to diplomacy is running riot.
Maybe they might be the best fits for one-off interventions, but as Special Envoys who might need to do a bit of back and forth, I am not sure that these people who are in their 80s, with some like Chief Emeka Anyaoku, in their 90s. Agile as President Olusegun Obasanjo is, I am not sure this is the best way to make use of his clout and stature.
I think that many of the commentators who have put forward these names are boxed into doing so on the strength of the assumption that these Envoys must necessarily have loads of experience in international diplomacy to play this role.
While experience, contacts, clout, exposure and stature matter, one doesn’t have to tick all the boxes to be successful.
Depending on the duty post and the nature of assignment, there are younger people, who don’t have the level of experience and exposure that some of the people above have, but can rise up to the occasion.
President Trump’s Special Envoys – Jared Kushner and Steve. Witkoff are not known to have had any diplomatic experience before they were appointed as Envoys.
Well, we are not America, but the template can be tinkered with to suit our circumstances.
President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, Dr Kayode Fayemi are some of these names.
There are others, who are not on that first list, but can hold their own or be groomed to be able to do so, in diplomatic circles – Dr Kayode Fayemi, Mr Ade Adefeko, Mr Kelechi Deca-Anyanwu, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Mr Emeka Oparah, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, Dr Reuben Abati, Mr Kingsley Uranta, Mr John Momoh, Prof Jibrin Ibrahim are some of the names that come to my mind, right now, as people that can be groomed to fill this yawning gap, and serve as Nigeria’s next generation of foreign policy intelligentsia, along with many academics who have written extensively on Nigeria’s foreign policy. Some will serve as Advisers, Ambassadors, Special Envoys.
We need a new foreign policy think-tank. What has happened in the last few weeks has exposed how dry we are at the point of strategic thinking, a point some of us conducting research in the field have made.
We have to take training and grooming seriously. University of Lagos has a Masters Degree programme on International law and Diplomacy, which I had the privilege of being a part of 1994. It was originally designed as a Diploma programme for Nigerian Diplomats before it was upgraded. At the time I studied, we had career diplomats as classmates. I don’t know what obtains now.
Knowledge of international relations is great, but knowledge of international law and Diplomacy is more helpful in practice. I studied both. International law and Diplomacy will teach diplomatic practice, diplomatic and consular law, maritime law, law of the sea, law of war, etc.
We need a new generation of foreign affairs elite properly trained and groomed, with a good understanding of the increasingly complicated multidimensional world, in which an unconventional approach to diplomacy is running riot.
READ ALSO:
Mind your phone manners at public functions
Criterion’s 2025 conference, Eko Akete, opens Wednesday
ICPC chairman to deliver Realnews 13th anniversary lecture
Shell highlights contributions to Nigerian economy in NAPE exhibition
Trump’s threat as a wake up call, By Kazeem Akintunde
Sagamu-Benin Expressway crash kills one, injures two
The Trump Challenge and a call for patriotic voices
BREAKING: Soludo wins all LGs in Anambra guber (+ Results)
