The countries listed below are the countries said to have been visited by PMB since assuming power.
US,Iran,Japan,Ghana,India,Chad,Niger,Benin Republic, Equatorial Guinea,Cameroun,UK,France,Germany,UAE,Ethiopia,S/Arabia,Sudan,Qatar,Malta,UAE,Kenya,S/Africa
A reasonable student of international relations won't have problems understanding the reasons for choice of these countries.
Such student will understand that two considerations influenced the choice.They are:
* Security and
* Economy
Example, India and US are the biggest buyers of Nigerian crude,so in the face of Iran's resumption of int'l oil trade and the collapsing oil prices,should Nigeria sit idly and allow her customers stroll away?
Iran and Saudi/Arabia are Nigeria's counterparts in OPEC,infact,they are highest producers of oil in the OPEC zone.
Secondly, the both countries are regional rivals in the Mid/East.The both countries have the strongest military might in the Islamic world and practice two different brands of Islam fiercely opposed to the other.While Iran project the Shia(Shitte) brand,S/Arabia prefer the Sunni version of Islam.
Nigeria,as an independent state,has a huge population of both brands of Islam.The implication of these is that Nigeria has both economic and religious relationship with the super powers in Islam who are also important in the OPEC oil cartel,as such,must maintain healthy relations and partner with both countries if oil prices must raise its head above the present low prices.
Chad,Cameroun,Niger and Benin Republics are Nigeria's immediate neighbours.And Nigeria,facing cross-border terrorism,must work closely with her neighbours.In the recent past,Nigeria and her neighbours never had a good working relations,as such,President Buhari is duty bound to re-establish relations and boost confidence between Abuja and her neighbouring capitals.This is necessary in curtailing the Boko Haram terrorists.
Ghana,Ethiopia,Sudan&S/Africa are Nigeria's counterparts in sub-regional and regional groupings as ECOWAS & the A.U.Nigeria therefore needs both sub-regional®ional collaborations to defeat terrorism and stabilize the region.
Nigeria&S/Africa have not had excellent relations in the recent past.From the Quarantine card crisis to the Arms purchase scandal,to T.B Joshua's church collapse wherein many S/Africans died,to the Xenophobia attack against Nigerians and blacks,Nigeria's relationship with S/Africa had come under serious threats.Am sure this is what informed the visit of both presidents to the others' capital.This,in International relations,represents the highest level of repairs in the relations of both countries.
China,Sudan,Germany,Kenya,Malta,Qatar,India,UK,France are all important stakeholders in the international field and can never be ignored.These countries also have experiences dealing with terrorists.PMB's visit is therefore,to mobilize international collaboration against terrorism,exchange experiences as well as secure important economic commitments.
To this end,the Chinese are investing about $60B into Nigeria's railway sector,while the US has not only provided a lot of military support to Nigeria's troops,President Obama has promised to lead an economic/military delegation of world leaders to Nigeria this April.In Int'l relations,this represents a country's growing influence in the int'l environment.France in particular,is an important military ally to most of Nigeria's neighbours and must be treated with a lot of care.
For the UAE,their cities have emerged as destination of choice for loots coming from Nigeria.Billions of $ stolen by corrupt past government officials have been traced to the UAE.Its also on record that Nigerians have the highest real Estates there and live the most affluent lifestyles in UAE.
PMB's visit saw Nigeria sign important economic,military and judicial agreements wherein,the UAE last week pledged to return over $7Billion stashed by Nigerians in their country.Imagine what that amount can do in Nigeria.
As it appears today,these countries visited by PMB are no-go areas for Nigeria's gangsters of corruption.They cannot visit nor maintain fat bank accounts in these countries without been traced.
This reason, perhaps, explains the hues and cries by this particular set of people against PMB's visits.
In days to come,i expect PMB to visit and secure the cooperation of the governments of Kayman's Islands,Comoros and other seeming corrupt havens.
Finally, Nigerians must realize that corruption is multi-faceted,and so,dealing with it must also be multi-dimensional.
In history, no Nigerian president has visited as much countries as PMB,with the right international frameworks in place, I do not see another President making such visits because PMB would have already laid the foundation of international cooperation.
Sir Ikenda Clinton Elechi is a graduate student of the University of Port Harcourt College of Graduate Studies and can be reached on elci4uyahoo.com
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