BraniacX:


And what do you mean by let's stop deceiving ourselves??

Let's stop deceiving ourselves with "old glory". If America withdraws the international aid and/or support it gives us, we are in for a rough time.

Obiwannn:
WATCHERS of Nigeria’s foreign policy and diplomatic practice are divided in their disposition to the proposed visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the United States. To members of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), there is a sense of celebration that Nigeria is returning to international reckoning with the proposed visit but most Nigerians are not amused by Washington’s “Do Good Diplomacy” which is unravelling with the emergence of the new administration in Nigeria.

Presidents Buhari and Obama
A 30-man Federal Government team has been assembled for this visit which is coming two days after Obama would have visited his fatherland, Kenya. This has raised questions on how much regard the White House has accorded its relations with Nigeria which is obviously a powerhouse in Africa and global politics. The US wants to use the invitation of President Buhari to show that it welcomes the new regime in Nigeria but the tone of the event is condescendingly abhorrent, to say the least. Top on the agenda is security in West African sub region, war against terrorism in Nigeria, support for the multi-lateral military task force, the war against corruption, US position on same sex prohibition law, and trade between US and Nigeria.

Military cooperation

President Buhari will be received in the White House on July 20 and will later hold discussions with the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey and Deputy Secretary of Defence, Robert Work on defence and military co-operation between both countries. President Buhari will also meet with Vice-President Joe Biden, Secretary of Trade Jack Lew, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritaker and Attorney-General Loretta Lynch in a wide range of talks expected to cover trade, drug law enforcement, and economic ties. Before leaving Washington, President Buhari will address the US Chamber of Commerce and Co-operation Council for Africa.

Governors of Edo, Borno, Oyo, Imo and Nasarawa are on the presidential entourage, including the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeia, permanent secretaries in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Industry, Trade & Investment, and Defence. Prof. Fred Agwu, Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs said the Nigerian team should be circumspect in dealing with the Americans who under the Obama administration have not treated Nigeria as an ally.

Before the election of President Buhari, relations between Nigeria and America has been, at best, frosty as diplomats from both countries treated each other with suspicion. This was not helped by the massive campaign against the Jonathan administration by a section of the human rights community in the United States. Nigeria has the largest population of black people in the world and has the largest economy in Africa. It is the world’s sixth largest producer of oil and third with its proven gas reserves in the world. Nigeria has the highest US business interest in Sub-Saharan Africa and citizens of Nigeria play key roles in the US economy. It is therefore understandable that the destiny of Nigeria and the United States cross at some point.

Victims of vile propaganda

The administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan incurred the wrath of Washington when it signed into law the Same-Sex Prohibition Act against all pressure from the US and its allies who claim that the bill was in violation of the Fundamental Human Rights of the LGBT Community in Nigeria. The US mission was peeved and could not hide the anger of White House with that legislation. While some Nigerians felt worried with the disposition of the US government and its diplomats to domestic politics in Nigeria, the opposition parties and groups found inspiration in the support from Washington for a change of guard in Nigeria. Even the US president, Barrack Obama, advocated in Ghana that what Africa requires is not strong men but strong institutions.

It was not a coincidence that leading American politicians, namely Mrs. Hilary Clinton who as Secretary of State visited Nigeria in 2012 and was full of praises for the administration, but by 2014, had become a bitter critic of the same administration. Similarly, US Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator John McCain and even President Barrack Obama made disparaging remarks that impugned the sovereignty of Nigeria and had all shown hostile attitude to the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Hostile treatment

There were series of negative publications of events in Nigeria to discredit the former administration and make mockery of Nigeria which has often rallied round to support Washington in its troubled times. Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Prof Ade Adefuye, took exception to this hostile treatment of Nigeria when he addressed the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington in November last year.

Prof. Adefuye bluntly told the Americans that Nigerians felt abandoned by the US during the time of need. Ambassador Adefuye said “I am sad to inform you that the Nigerian leadership, military and political and even the general populace are not satisfied with the scope, nature, and content of United States support for us in our struggle against terrorists. We find it difficult to understand how and why in spite of the US presence in Nigeria with their sophisticated military technology, Boko Haram should be expanding and becoming more deadly.”

Chibok Girls saga: The abduction of over 200 girls from Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State put Nigeria on the spot and made her look little in the eyes of its citizens and the global community. The western media latched on it to give Boko Haram the maximum international publicity it desired.

Assistance and cooperation

Nigeria openly requested for military assistance and expertise in intelligence gathering in order to find and rescue the girls. Several countries offered various forms of assistance and co-operation. West African countries launched the Multinational Military Action. The African Union has offered commitment of 7, 500 foot soldiers to combat a local terror group that is part of the Global Coalition of Jihadist Network.

Yet, Washington has hidden under the need to ensure that the Human Rights of Boko Haram is not violated, to oppose hard military offensive against the group. Prof. Fred Agwu, Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs told Vanguard that the US refused to sell arms to Nigeria citing some human rights conditions. According to Prof. Agwu, the Americans are known to fight terrorism in any part of the world but in the case of Nigeria Washington adopted a watching brief to Nigeria’s anti terrorism war until Boko Haram grew so strong as to take over territories in the North Eastern part of the country.

Assistance of Washington in the first place

As Agwu said: “The complexity of fighting Boko Haram is such that the group has ideological sympathies within and outside the government, within the military services, local communities, etc. It is a diffused organization whose terror tactics is to strike when least expected. Even the US has not succeeded in downgrading the fighting capacity of ISIS in the last 16 months, what justification could Washington give for abandoning Nigeria at its critical time of need?” Prof Agwu said the local insurgency grew to the point of becoming affiliated with ISIS, adding that said disagreement with the Jonathan administration over the same sex prohibition act was not enough for the US to abandon other aspects of relations between Nigeria and US.

Oil diplomacy: It is a known fact that when the US and its allies begin to cry more than the bereaved, then something more fundamental is at stake granted that the US has shown genuine desire to deepen democracy in Nigeria. Key issues listed in the Bi-National Commission between Nigeria and the US were put on hold.

Agreement with Chinese

Since 2010, when the Federal Government signed agreement with the Chinese to build three refineries in Lagos, Kebbi and Bayelsa states, the US has been very uncomfortable with Nigeria opening up the oil sector for the Chinese to come in. The proposed refineries were expected to produce 900,000 bpd to double the existing 450,000 from the poorly functioning refineries in the country.

Same sex law: Ambassador Sulieman Dahiru who had served in Brazil, Angola, the United States, Poland, Ivory Coast, Austria, Sudan and Pakistan, told Vanguard that Nigeria should make its stand known on issues such as terrorism which has become a global issue, especially as we know that the US is all out to defeat terrorism. He said, “I think with the change of government and leadership of the armed forces should bring the expected positive change.” On social issues like same sex marriage, lesbians, and gays, Buhari should listen to Obama and make it clear to him that the issue has been settled in Nigeria, no political leader will come out to support these issues. Culturally it is unacceptable, religiously is unacceptable, while no amount of pressure from outside the country will change that decision.

What is important is that President Buhari should tone down of the rhetoric of his party which has been less nationalistic in its uncritical denunciation of everything done by the past administration just to justify its claim for change.

Nigeria is not another Greece and the sovereignty and dignity of Nigeria is a valuable asset in its campaign for foreign investment, especially from the US business community. It will be counter-productive, if not contradictory for President Buhari to de-market the country’s economy and at the same time expect Americans to come and do business with Nigeria. The Presidential delegation should equally convince the American people that there is indeed change in Nigeria, by shunning official profligacy. More irksome to the US is the decision of the Jonathan Administration to allow the state-run Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation to participate in the exploration of 29 offshore oil fields which the West-dominated IOC’s have been dragging their foot on entering into agreement with Nigeria.

The Chinese are expected to commit about $50 billion investment into this venture. The Federal Government under the Jonathan administration had initiated series of reforms aimed at strengthening participation of Nigerians in the oil and gas sector. The US is uncomfortable with the entry of China into Nigeria’s oil and gas sector as it has often tried to fend off competition from the Asian nation. Under the Obama administration, the US has stopped its token purchase of Nigerian oil and it has taken other measures that are hostile to Nigeria’s economic interests in the name of protecting its environment and economy.

Combating Ebola: When Nigeria needed support to combat the Ebola virus crisis, American pharmaceutical companies that produced the Zmapp experimental drug for Ebola demurred. Again, Nigeria had to rely on its own internal contact-tracking method to contain the spread of Ebola.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/07/buharis-visit-is-the-us-our-friend-or-foe/

cc: lalasticlala, ishilove

. I keep on saying it,US is not nigeria's friend at all! They are just after those that will do their bidding even if it is to their detriment.
Though, its not bad to do business with them,but when u let them be dominant players in major sectors of our economy, they will someday disappoint you. Especially when they say do this n you don't do it! I will like the President to emulate India,the way they maintain friendly relations with Russia n US! Despite having reservations when it comes to their relations with US cos, the US will always want to interfare and control a countary's political and socio economic afairs.

onyedikachukwue:
President of d zoo, the zoo must fall

I don't understand why this Flat heads always wishing bad for Nigeria?

Why are all these questions nt asked when d past govt went to visit the same U.S.?

kaboninc:


I've just gone through that essay.

What struck me was what happened during the Ebola virus. They had the vaccine but would not help because their own wasn't affected. You see how our own doctors rallied around to contain the spread and the role the media did play, that is the Spirit of ONE Nigeria but Nigerians won't see that way!


I tell you, most people do not know the foreign policy of the US. If there's no personal interest, they do not bother. There are lots of instances, the Iran Deal is the most recent - about their policies and even their movies display these things yet our people think the US wants our interest. We see these things and instead of sucking off the good to be used here, we judge harshly against ours. How do we grow? The US is a home to so many tribes and ethnic society but the survival of the US is paramount and the number one priority.

That's why am a die hard fan of Yar'Adua and GEJ because they called their bluff. They looked inwards to grow our country.

I hope we get to understand the move by Emefiele because they are geared towards OUR interest.

God bless us!

People keep talking about LGBT rights but i see this diplomatic move by Washington as a move to persuade Buhari to relax GEJ's trade policies. I believe that when Buhari comes back he will do the following:

1. Relax the import duties. A relaxed import duty will enable america flood our market with their scraped (Tokunbo) electronics and cars.

2. They will try to advice Buhari against the AU trade treaty which Nigeria refused to sign, perhaps make him believe that it is not a bad thing as being painted in Nigeria media, that it will be beneficial to both countries but the truth is that we are not exporting anything yet so it cannot be beneficial to us but to a large percentage to them alone.

3. There will be promises to send us a lot of ammunition to fight boko haram, this will include some of their tanks and transport vehicles being used in the middle east. This move will STOP us from buying from Russia and China and since we are no more buying from the Chinese and Russians, the BRICS will feel abandoned and they'll gradually withdraw their alliance.

4. Same sex marriage will definitely be talked about but this is not so important to Washington. They will express their displeasure but they will do nothing about it.

It's all about America's economic interest and not same sex marriage and Nigeria has everything to lose. Our relation with the Chinese and Russians is about to be soured. In 3 months time i will be back to review my prediction.

The United States should be told that Nigeria is not one of their colonies nor province. We needed them the most during the GEJ administration to help stem BH by selling us arms yet they blintly refused under the pretense of "Haramite" right abuse. Their anger was because we refused to adopt same-sex union. The Obama government has done more harm to Nigeria than any US government in history. Shamefully, President Buhari is determined to do the bidding of the US whether it affects our interest or not. Nigerians are watching

America does not give us aid......where did you get this outrageous lie?

MarieSucre:

Let's stop deceiving ourselves with "old glory". If America withdraws the international aid and/or support it gives us, we are in for a rough time.

huangcheng:


People keep talking about LGBT rights but i see this diplomatic move by Washington to persuade Buhari to relax GEJ's trade policy. I believe that when Buhari comes back he will do the following.

1. Relax the import duties. A relaxed import duty will enable america flood our market with their scraped (Tokunbo) electronics and cars.

2. They will try to advice Buhari that the AU trade treaty which Nigeria refused to sign is not a bad thing as it is being painted, that it will be beneficial to both countries but the truth is that we are not exporting anything yet so it cannot be beneficial to us but to a large percentage to them alone.

3. There will be a promise to send us a lot of ammunition to fight boko haram, this will include some of their tanks and transport vehicles being used in the middle east. This move will STOP us from buying from Russia and China and since we are no more buying from the Chinese and Russians, they will feel abandoned and they'll gradually withdraw their alliance.

4. Same sex marriage will definitely be talked about but this is not so important to Washington. They will express their displeasure but they will do nothing about it.

It's all about the money and Nigeria has everything to lose. Our relation with the Chinese and Russians is about to be soured. In 3 months time i will be back to confirm my prediction.

I hope Mr. Buhari goes there to bargain with Nigeria's interest at heart. I hope he understand that Nigeria's survival should be the first priority. I hope he understand that in as much as we need the US for trade and security, they also need us for same thing.

You're absolutely right especially the trade policies and security policies. The promise for weapons is just the right bait and if Mr. Buhari makes them understand that they need peace and stability especially in Africa, and Nigeria will play a very important role, the better.

I wonder what will be our new foreign policy. Gosh, Mr. Buhari did not even give us a hint of his foreign policy during all his years of campaign.

BraniacX:


Another mumu-ing mumu on the loose here

How does the US using its very long reach to unseat unfavourable governments have anything whatsoever to do with corruption of those said governments?

DON'T QUOTE ME TO INSULT.

MarieSucre:

Let's stop deceiving ourselves with "old glory". If America withdraws the international aid and/or support it gives us, we are in for a rough time.

Aid and support?

C'mon

Are you mistaking us for rwanda and uganda where foreign aid accounts for a significant proportion of their budget??

And what support does america give us

Not even basic intel was shared with us in the fight against boko haram!!

You should try and differentiate between lip service/propaganda from actual aid and support

America claimed they stopped aiding Nigeria due to human rights abuses while increasing their military aid to uganda in their fight against the LRA even with bigger and better documented human rights abuses

They refused to sell us arms and blocked black market purchases (which if you must know is an everyday occurrence) with the support of a south african government under fire for loosing their leading position as the continent's biggest economy to Nigeria and the aid of an unpatriotic opposition who politicised a costly terrorist uprising to suit their aims but russia and china sold us arms when GEJ decided to realise that the word ally when it comes to the US are just mere words that carry no weight, isreal and russia trained our DSS and military to combat these threat, officers whom as I talk to you, buhari is currently weeding out of the military and DSS and firing

The US stopped oil purchases from Nigeria almost crippling our economy, GEJ diversified our markets and india, china increased their stakes in our oil industry saving us from bankruptcy

We're already in a rough time my dear, but thanks to GEJ's policy of looking east when the west disappoints you, we are still alive and now thanks to buhari, china is unsure of cyno-Nigerian relations and their purchase of our oil and investments in our economy has dropped and bubu is running back to the US to put us in the condition of servitude again, how is that good?

Soreza:
DON'T QUOTE ME TO INSULT.

My apologies
I get carried away sometimes

MarieSucre:
You talk like we have a choice. Does Nigeria really have a choice in this matter? The present negotiations going on between Iran and the West after the deadlock since 1979 should be a lesson to us. Nigeria is a giant alright but a paper giant of Africa. Let's stop deceiving ourselves.

in time of adversity,you would suddenly realise there are other ways of doing things which were clearly demonstrated by the previous administration. Well,its a good thing we can repair our relations with the US but we should realise the real solution to insurgency is from within cos there is a local input to insurgency;they have collaborators and sympathizers who provide funds and logistics,they must be sought out and dealt with while foreign aid from US in terms of training,ammunition and intel is sought. We are truly the giant of africa,all we need is a change of orientation to start acting as one.

MarieSucre:
You talk like we have a choice. Does Nigeria really have a choice in this matter? The present negotiations going on between Iran and the West after the deadlock since 1979 should be a lesson to us. Nigeria is a giant alright but a paper giant of Africa. Let's stop deceiving ourselves.

Yes dear we have a choice. Its called looking inwards and realignment. Don't sound as if when it comes 2d US, nigeria is helpless. Far from it. I remember during d abacha era with all d sanctions, nigeria pulled thru. I still say tom ikimi was d best foreign minister nigeria has ever had. He stood up 2d west even at d united nations. He rejigged our foreign policy and revised our relations with d west 2 suit our interests. Guess what? We survived. Lately, GEJ was in d US when we had problems with ebola. In his capacity as president, GEJ personally asked obama 4a drug d US military had developed 2 assist in d fight against ebola. Obama refused 2 assist. GEJ came back home. Did we not win d fight against ebola even without d US? So pls we aren't that helpless. Am just disappointed that buhari is becoming 2 condescending 2d west. It doesn't portray him as a leader 2b respected by d west

He is only going to complain and tell Obama how Nigerian Naria is N250=$1. I wonder nif he is going to advice Obama in anyway?.Hahaha

This world is full of delusion. And as time goes by, it will get much worse.... and so ye fools can kip running to d US for fake help or wateva... if u dont bend to d whims of d Elite devils, u cant get any help.. buh hurrah..islam is of d devil so anyfin can happen......
My happiness is dat I m on the lord Jesus' s army...

DMerciful:
America does not give us aid......where did you get this outrageous lie?

GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND.



The U.S. Government gave a total of
$335,875,958 to Nigeria in 2012:
The aid was broken down in the following
manner:
Economic
› Child Survival and Health: $-282,182
› Department of Defense Security Assistance:
$684,358
› Development Assistance: $31,475,335
› Global Health and Child Survival: $279,411,289
› Global HIV/AIDS Initiative: $302,460
› Narcotics Control: $746,973
› Nonproliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Demining and
Related: $2,283,372
› Other Active Grant Programs: $6,679,502
› Other State Assistance: $2,458,348
› Other USAID Assistance: $7,168,203
Military
› Military Assistance, Total: $4,948,300
http://us-foreign-aid.insidegov.com/q/127/1590/How-much-money-does-the-U-S-give-to-Nigeria

Nigeria receives approximately $83b per year in
foreign aid from donors including the US,
Europe, the World Bank, Europe, Japan, and the
UN, and certain Gulf countries (AidData). The
US aims to contribute approximately $720m in
aid in 2015, while European Union aid to
Nigeria between 2009 and 2013 totaled
approximately $225m per year (Business Day,
2014) (EU External Action). The United States
contributed a relatively small amount aid to
Nigeria beginning at Nigerian independence in
1960s. Flows during this time were much lower
than they have been since democratization. A
major US-sponsored aid project in the country
during this time was the development of several
agricultural schools at Nigeria institutes of
higher education (USAID). The US restricted aid
the in the early 90s in response to drug
trafficking inside Nigeria, donating about $7
million per year during this time
(approximately $.06/person) (USAID). In 1999,
Nigeria ’s first president was elected, and twenty
years later, the US president is requesting $720
million in foreign aid to Nigeria (approximately
$4/person, adjusted for population growth)
(Business Day). US aid to Nigeria thus increased
dramatically during the same period that the
country became a democracy. http://africanworldpolitics.site.wesleyan.edu/2014/10/15/nigeria-and-foreign-aid/

Superman11:


Everything there says that I love you.hehe

u try wella

ITbomb: Beware of America
If Jonathan could navigate this country without the incursion of America, we can do it. I don't understand why APC should be seeing this as an achievement. The USA that has destroyed the way of life and economy of many prosperous countries is forming friendship with you and you are jumping for joy.

[s]You need to have your head check. Ok, sorry I forgot the head is a dullard [/s]

U made a lot of sense in your post, but not until you got to the line...

There should be some respect most esp when we are talking about matters that has to do with now and future of our country

Mean no harm

www.nairaland.com/attachments/2639169_mrbeaninindiangetupfunnypicture_jpegbae10626a3ca32e32bc4e742b75d1085

Lol... funny

trueteller:
Please, try go through the entire threat. It is very rich, powerful and make sense die according to some Delta boys. create out time to read. It very educative.

Nxt time edit and summarize....I believe that is still being taught in schools.....then I will gleefully read it.

Dough its bitter, but he has spoken d real thing. naija bcareful o..

An2elect2:
Am waiting for the day an african leader will turn down a western invitation.

God bless u. I'm also looking forward to that day too. Its appalling the way our leaders lick their feet thereby portraying us as inferior to them. That's why they'll always treat us in a condescending manner with condescending policies. Imagine obama a guy bellow 50yrs inviting our 73yrs president for dinner n we as a nation are celebrating. Chai inferiority has eaten deep into us. Can't obama come to nigeria. China became grt simply because they learnt how not to rely on America.

Silly biafran ramblings. China doesn't give a damn about Nigeria. China is a resources looter and the terms of engagement is always in their favor and they make sure we are in debt to always keep us in line.

Where was this thoughtless writer when China and GEJ were rapping us left and right with little or nothing on the ground to show for billions of dollars loan to China that we can not pay?

GEJ took $500 million loan from China to install cctv in Abuja, but the installed toys and scrap, but we can not get our money back because its not only a loan to be repaid by the Nigerian people regardless, but China also built into the contract agreement stipulations that the terms of the contract can not be disclosed or litigated.

Based on on borrowing from China, China won't hire skilled labor from Nigeria so exactly what are we gaining from China apart from our massive debt ?

The railway system that borrowed us billions to build I'd nothing but old trash and ancient locomotive.


America did more for Nigerian free of charge than any country in the qorldt.

Although used, 2 of your best war ships was supplied by America free of charge so tell us when the last time China gave you anything free of charge?

American taxpayers paid for the trainers they sent over here to train our military men, but just because they refused to work with corrupt generals swindling Nigerians and refused to show up with basic equipment to train with just because jona and his generals stole billions of dollars meant for equipments.

Who sent our troops to war without bullets and credible weapons? America or jona?

Who promoted and gave the useless generals national awards instead of firing and probing them especially after losing towns and villagers to terrorists and thousands of Nigerians dead? America?

America refused to deal with a lawless, corrupt and incompetent government for very good reasons and even Nigerians got rid of jona and his worthless government for the same reasons.


Our best days ate ahead so stop crying. Nigerians rejected jona just like the rest of the world. Concentrate on your biafra nonsense and leave.

we dont really know yet?

I would not worry too much about the complete cut off of American or even European aid. It MAY be reduced to signify displeasure at a few repressive and primitive policies but Nigeria has more going FOR it than AGAINST.

Besides no one wants to punish the average Nigerian for the excesses of a minority.

Never expect ANY two countries to agree on 100% of their issues any more than two individuals would. The key point is that we have more things in common than conflicting issues.

Obiwannn:
WATCHERS of Nigeria’s foreign policy and diplomatic practice are divided in their disposition to the proposed visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the United States. To members of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), there is a sense of celebration that Nigeria is returning to international reckoning with the proposed visit but most Nigerians are not amused by Washington’s “Do Good Diplomacy” which is unravelling with the emergence of the new administration in Nigeria.

Presidents Buhari and Obama
A 30-man Federal Government team has been assembled for this visit which is coming two days after Obama would have visited his fatherland, Kenya. This has raised questions on how much regard the White House has accorded its relations with Nigeria which is obviously a powerhouse in Africa and global politics. The US wants to use the invitation of President Buhari to show that it welcomes the new regime in Nigeria but the tone of the event is condescendingly abhorrent, to say the least. Top on the agenda is security in West African sub region, war against terrorism in Nigeria, support for the multi-lateral military task force, the war against corruption, US position on same sex prohibition law, and trade between US and Nigeria.

Military cooperation

President Buhari will be received in the White House on July 20 and will later hold discussions with the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey and Deputy Secretary of Defence, Robert Work on defence and military co-operation between both countries. President Buhari will also meet with Vice-President Joe Biden, Secretary of Trade Jack Lew, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritaker and Attorney-General Loretta Lynch in a wide range of talks expected to cover trade, drug law enforcement, and economic ties. Before leaving Washington, President Buhari will address the US Chamber of Commerce and Co-operation Council for Africa.

Governors of Edo, Borno, Oyo, Imo and Nasarawa are on the presidential entourage, including the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeia, permanent secretaries in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Industry, Trade & Investment, and Defence. Prof. Fred Agwu, Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs said the Nigerian team should be circumspect in dealing with the Americans who under the Obama administration have not treated Nigeria as an ally.

Before the election of President Buhari, relations between Nigeria and America has been, at best, frosty as diplomats from both countries treated each other with suspicion. This was not helped by the massive campaign against the Jonathan administration by a section of the human rights community in the United States. Nigeria has the largest population of black people in the world and has the largest economy in Africa. It is the world’s sixth largest producer of oil and third with its proven gas reserves in the world. Nigeria has the highest US business interest in Sub-Saharan Africa and citizens of Nigeria play key roles in the US economy. It is therefore understandable that the destiny of Nigeria and the United States cross at some point.

Victims of vile propaganda

The administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan incurred the wrath of Washington when it signed into law the Same-Sex Prohibition Act against all pressure from the US and its allies who claim that the bill was in violation of the Fundamental Human Rights of the LGBT Community in Nigeria. The US mission was peeved and could not hide the anger of White House with that legislation. While some Nigerians felt worried with the disposition of the US government and its diplomats to domestic politics in Nigeria, the opposition parties and groups found inspiration in the support from Washington for a change of guard in Nigeria. Even the US president, Barrack Obama, advocated in Ghana that what Africa requires is not strong men but strong institutions.

It was not a coincidence that leading American politicians, namely Mrs. Hilary Clinton who as Secretary of State visited Nigeria in 2012 and was full of praises for the administration, but by 2014, had become a bitter critic of the same administration. Similarly, US Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator John McCain and even President Barrack Obama made disparaging remarks that impugned the sovereignty of Nigeria and had all shown hostile attitude to the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Hostile treatment

There were series of negative publications of events in Nigeria to discredit the former administration and make mockery of Nigeria which has often rallied round to support Washington in its troubled times. Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Prof Ade Adefuye, took exception to this hostile treatment of Nigeria when he addressed the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington in November last year.

Prof. Adefuye bluntly told the Americans that Nigerians felt abandoned by the US during the time of need. Ambassador Adefuye said “I am sad to inform you that the Nigerian leadership, military and political and even the general populace are not satisfied with the scope, nature, and content of United States support for us in our struggle against terrorists. We find it difficult to understand how and why in spite of the US presence in Nigeria with their sophisticated military technology, Boko Haram should be expanding and becoming more deadly.”

Chibok Girls saga: The abduction of over 200 girls from Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State put Nigeria on the spot and made her look little in the eyes of its citizens and the global community. The western media latched on it to give Boko Haram the maximum international publicity it desired.

Assistance and cooperation

Nigeria openly requested for military assistance and expertise in intelligence gathering in order to find and rescue the girls. Several countries offered various forms of assistance and co-operation. West African countries launched the Multinational Military Action. The African Union has offered commitment of 7, 500 foot soldiers to combat a local terror group that is part of the Global Coalition of Jihadist Network.

Yet, Washington has hidden under the need to ensure that the Human Rights of Boko Haram is not violated, to oppose hard military offensive against the group. Prof. Fred Agwu, Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs told Vanguard that the US refused to sell arms to Nigeria citing some human rights conditions. According to Prof. Agwu, the Americans are known to fight terrorism in any part of the world but in the case of Nigeria Washington adopted a watching brief to Nigeria’s anti terrorism war until Boko Haram grew so strong as to take over territories in the North Eastern part of the country.

Assistance of Washington in the first place

As Agwu said: “The complexity of fighting Boko Haram is such that the group has ideological sympathies within and outside the government, within the military services, local communities, etc. It is a diffused organization whose terror tactics is to strike when least expected. Even the US has not succeeded in downgrading the fighting capacity of ISIS in the last 16 months, what justification could Washington give for abandoning Nigeria at its critical time of need?” Prof Agwu said the local insurgency grew to the point of becoming affiliated with ISIS, adding that said disagreement with the Jonathan administration over the same sex prohibition act was not enough for the US to abandon other aspects of relations between Nigeria and US.

Oil diplomacy: It is a known fact that when the US and its allies begin to cry more than the bereaved, then something more fundamental is at stake granted that the US has shown genuine desire to deepen democracy in Nigeria. Key issues listed in the Bi-National Commission between Nigeria and the US were put on hold.

Agreement with Chinese

Since 2010, when the Federal Government signed agreement with the Chinese to build three refineries in Lagos, Kebbi and Bayelsa states, the US has been very uncomfortable with Nigeria opening up the oil sector for the Chinese to come in. The proposed refineries were expected to produce 900,000 bpd to double the existing 450,000 from the poorly functioning refineries in the country.

Same sex law: Ambassador Sulieman Dahiru who had served in Brazil, Angola, the United States, Poland, Ivory Coast, Austria, Sudan and Pakistan, told Vanguard that Nigeria should make its stand known on issues such as terrorism which has become a global issue, especially as we know that the US is all out to defeat terrorism. He said, “I think with the change of government and leadership of the armed forces should bring the expected positive change.” On social issues like same sex marriage, lesbians, and gays, Buhari should listen to Obama and make it clear to him that the issue has been settled in Nigeria, no political leader will come out to support these issues. Culturally it is unacceptable, religiously is unacceptable, while no amount of pressure from outside the country will change that decision.

What is important is that President Buhari should tone down of the rhetoric of his party which has been less nationalistic in its uncritical denunciation of everything done by the past administration just to justify its claim for change.

Nigeria is not another Greece and the sovereignty and dignity of Nigeria is a valuable asset in its campaign for foreign investment, especially from the US business community. It will be counter-productive, if not contradictory for President Buhari to de-market the country’s economy and at the same time expect Americans to come and do business with Nigeria. The Presidential delegation should equally convince the American people that there is indeed change in Nigeria, by shunning official profligacy. More irksome to the US is the decision of the Jonathan Administration to allow the state-run Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation to participate in the exploration of 29 offshore oil fields which the West-dominated IOC’s have been dragging their foot on entering into agreement with Nigeria.

The Chinese are expected to commit about $50 billion investment into this venture. The Federal Government under the Jonathan administration had initiated series of reforms aimed at strengthening participation of Nigerians in the oil and gas sector. The US is uncomfortable with the entry of China into Nigeria’s oil and gas sector as it has often tried to fend off competition from the Asian nation. Under the Obama administration, the US has stopped its token purchase of Nigerian oil and it has taken other measures that are hostile to Nigeria’s economic interests in the name of protecting its environment and economy.

Combating Ebola: When Nigeria needed support to combat the Ebola virus crisis, American pharmaceutical companies that produced the Zmapp experimental drug for Ebola demurred. Again, Nigeria had to rely on its own internal contact-tracking method to contain the spread of Ebola.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/07/buharis-visit-is-the-us-our-friend-or-foe/

cc: lalasticlala, ishilove

I pity nigeria and I pity buhari for hugging USA.i give you with the right hand and I squeeze your hand with the left to collect the gift.Obama should not force gay marriage on us.Is he our God or is he feeding us.I bet obama that he would never be loved by whites even if he lays his life for them so incurring God's wrath by forcing gay marriage on us is not healthy for Obama that most of us once truly admired.i bet you cant try that with russia, china, iran, zimbabwe and even kenya.i wonder what obama takes nigeria for. I pity buhari because by the time the pilot on that his american flight would turn back to look at his face, it would have been late because buhari would see a face of the beast.america is no longer america of the clinton days.china and russia are better off if I am asked to make my choice.buhari is unfortunately living in the euphoria of 1983 when the rest of the world worshipped america.Even iraqis and afghanistans beg to fight terror themselves.well buhari so sad you are about to expose us to america.Your trip to america is like boarding a flight to bernuda triangular.nigeria my country, still searching for who will control her bleeding.haters and abusers, I wish you triple of anything you wish me ohhh.

[s]

SojiAdeola:

Bloody mumu... fool!!!

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You don't have to address other people how you address your family members....

ngoziama:


I pity nigeria and I pity buhari for hugging USA.i give you with the right hand and I squeeze your hand with the left to collect the gift.Obama should not force gay marriage on us.Is he our God or is he feeding us.I bet obama that he would never be loved by whites even if he lays his life for them so incurring God's wrath by forcing gay marriage on us is not healthy for Obama that most of us once truly admired.i bet you cant try that with russia, china, iran, zimbabwe and even kenya.i wonder what obama takes nigeria for. I pity buhari because by the time the pilot on that his american flight would turn back to look at his face, it would have been late because buhari would see a face of the beast.america is no longer america of the clinton days.china and russia are better off if I am asked to make my choice.buhari is unfortunately living in the euphoria of 1983 when the rest of the world worshipped america.Even iraqis and afghanistans beg to fight terror themselves.well buhari so sad you are about to expose us to america.Your trip to america is like boarding a flight to bernuda triangular.nigeria my country, still searching for who will control her bleeding.haters and abusers, I wish you triple of anything you wish me ohhh.

USA is NOT forcing gay marriage on Nigeria. Merely protesting at repression of gays. You don't have to let them marry but you have no right to jail them for private practices that are in their personal lives. Once we persecute people for being different there is no end to it. The South African apartheid regime persecuted people for being black!

This deliberate twisting of the issue shows the lengths that evil homophobes and those idiots afraid that they might turn gay will stoop to in order to persecute those who have done them no harm. There were a minority of gays in Nigeria before this evil legislation was introduced to deflect attention from the governments poor performance and whip up sympathy. There will be gays after. The gays will always be a harmless minority - live and let live.

I am neutral on the US and Nigeria relationship because they owe Nigeria nothing. US is one of the nations that can purposely take a gateman from a very poor country and in 5 years, that person will be polished and sophisticated in their thinking. USA has come a long way from grasslands to where they are today. I might not like their gay stance but in the USA they try to give everyone a chance and a voice. There is no local government in the world that does not have someone/descendant in the USA.
Nigeria is at least 90% black, but still cannot live together or work well together. We want USA to come and help us do this and do that. Even God does not help people that don't help themselves talkless of mankind. We have to exhaust every option first which we have not done eg no intelligence gathering on a serious scale yet against terrorism; We have to rise above our differences at all levels so that external forces cannot cripple our resolve; We have to frown at crime, which is the only thing we do very very well.

People can say USA didn't win in Afghanistan but who is in power there?, they have perfected drone technology while there, they are perfecting intelligence gathering while there, and they are keeping their enemies on the run since their enemies play hide and seek. Nigeria, abeg make we dey know our mates. America is not perfect, but America is a very great country that have their own agenda and if they see a country with intelligence and courage like them, they align with that country. No time.