Nigerians Who Think Leaked ‘Disrespectful’ Qatar Letter Is Worthy Of Celebration Should Rethink –Ex-Minister, Frank Nweke II

Qatar said in the leaked letter that the rejection of President Tinubu’s request for visitation for the business and investment forum was due to the lack of a legally binding agreement between the country and Nigeria for the promotion of investment.

A former Minister of Information, Frank Nweke II, has demanded an investigation to determine the source and intent of the leaked letter from the government of Qatar rejecting President Bola Tinubu’s to visit the country for a business and investment meeting.



SaharaReporters on Saturday reported that the Qatari authorities in a letter sent to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, February 22, said that the Middle East country would not be able to welcome President Tinubu and hold the proposed forum intended to hold on March 2 and 3.



Qatar said in the leaked letter that the rejection of President Tinubu’s request for visitation for the business and investment forum was due to the lack of a legally binding agreement between the country and Nigeria for the promotion of investment.


The country in the letter further noted that its Ministry of Commerce had other commitments on the days that President Tinubu desired to visit.

However, in a letter dated February 23, 2024, the Qatar government made a U-turn and said it had approved President Tinubu’s visit request, noting that the President’s meeting with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce would be on March 3.

Reacting to the development, Nweke in a statement issued on Sunday, titled ‘The Qatari Note Verbale: Nigeria’s latest Diplomatic Debacle’, said that the correspondence between the Qatar embassy in Nigeria and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is embarrassing and an insult to Nigeria as a country.

He said, “As a Nigerian, I find the correspondence between the embassy of Qatar in Nigeria and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs currently circulating online, embarrassing. It is an insult to our nation.

“Relevant authorities should investigate the source and intent of this leak and take steps to ensure that it does not happen again.


“There is no contesting that our government has a responsibility to manage our national affairs with savvy, reflecting deep knowledge and understanding of diplomatic protocols and norms, it is however impolitic for any nation to disrespect a purportedly ‘friendly’ nation through its communication, or any other channel for that matter, in the way that Qatar has done, however muted the attempt.

“I call on Nigerians who think that this act of ridicule against our nation is justified and worthy of celebration to have a rethink. It is not. It is indeed very disrespectful to our nation and people.”

The former minister said, “Being outside the government, we may never know the full facts, but the tone and use of language in the circulating document, however factual, is most discourteous and calculated to undermine Nigeria’s image.


“Every part of our government is important for the efficient functioning of the whole, however our Ministry of Foreign Affairs like that of other countries is a critical Ministry, especially because it is front-facing, with the responsibility to shape and lead our engagement with the world.

“Nations use their Foreign Service Ministry to project hard and soft power, economic development, their people and their cultures. It is for this reason that most nations make significant investments and spare no expense in training members of their diplomatic service.

“Once upon a time, the Nigerian nation and her diplomats were highly revered in the world for the quality of their minds and overall impact of Nigeria’s foreign policy in global affairs.

“Their well-informed policy thrusts were the basis of Nigeria’s successes at various times in the past in South Africa, Mozambique, Sudan, Ethiopia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Burkina Faso and São Tomé and Principe to name a few; and in many peace negotiations and peacekeeping efforts around the world.



“The Foreign Service Academy and the Nigeria Institute for International Affairs, and similar elite institutions abroad, were created to meet the training needs of our diplomats and also carry on research on contemporary issues in Africa and the world.

“It was the outcome of various research and the thought leadership provided by leading diplomats and scholars in these institutions that underpinned Nigeria’s foreign policy which though focused on Africa helped Nigeria project considerable power in global affairs.

“This Note Verbale incident, in addition to a series of others before now which portray our country in poor light, is one too many. There is a saying in my Igbo dialect which translates to ‘If an old woman falls more than once, it is usually advised to count the number of items in the basket she is carrying on her head’.

“High level engagements between Nigeria’s Sovereign and others are so important that there should be absolutely no room for errors.”

He said that the reason or basis for President Tinubu's meeting or visiting Qatar must be clear and free of ambiguity.

He said, “The agenda must be agreed and finalised, usually after extensive consultations between officials of both countries. Unless there is a crisis, requiring urgent meetings, State visits are not vacations.

“They are sometimes planned years in advance and governments must prepare to make the best of the visit to enhance trade, bilateral and other relations in education, culture, science and technology, depending on a country’s interests. The nature of the meeting will also determine the composition and membership of the delegation.

“An important role for Nigeria’s representatives in potential host countries is a keen understanding of the cultural norms and gestures with detailed briefing provided to guide Mr President. That is how detailed the planning must be.



“Communication of the intent, purpose, resolutions and outcomes of a visit or meeting is critical; it must be factual and verifiable at every stage, issued at the appropriate level, only, by an authorized official.


“It is not the duty of your host to make your country look good by keeping mute, if out of excitement, inexperience or incompetence your officials mis-state resolutions reached at meetings.

“Competent officials of host countries are accountable to their principals and citizens and will issue their own statements based on their own understanding of what transpired at a meeting between two or more sovereigns. This was the case when President Tinubu visited the United Arab Emirates some months ago.

“Such slips, however freudian, have the potential to undermine otherwise important gains from high level meetings and engender a crisis of confidence.

“With the state of our economy and the considerable security challenges Nigeria is faced with at this time, every trip outside the country must be one that will bring obvious benefits to our troubled economy.


“The offensive note verbale from the Qataris is tantamount to someone accepting your request to visit his or her home while telling you at the same time that they won’t be home.

“If the Qatari Minister for Trade and indeed the Qatari business community and economic actors will otherwise be engaged with others on matters of similar interest to ours at the time of Mr President’s visit and communicate in the way that they have done, that in itself is a strong message of Nigeria’s standing with the government and people of Qatar. Actions are also important tools of diplomacy.

“I anticipate a serious review of this situation by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and his offer of dispassionate advice to Mr President to postpone this visit to enable proper planning in order for Nigeria to obtain the best outcomes from the visit, at a future date.


“I must however call on our government to get its acts together. The discourtesy and disrespect to our government and citizens around the world is on account of the perception of our country at this time, as weak, disorganized and corrupt.

“Respect can neither be conjured nor decreed. It can only be earned, especially in the international arena through hard work - good governance at home, a strong economy and people centered development, a secure and stable polity, respect for human rights and the rule of law, a manifest abhorrence for corruption and consistent respect for international laws and fulfillment of legitimate international obligations.


“As we secure our country and rebuild our economy, perception of Nigeria’s circumstances will change based on reality, countries will naturally become more circumspect in their engagement with our government and respect for our passport and our people will grow.”

https://saharareporters.com/2024/02/25/nigerians-who-think-leaked-disrespectful-qatar-letter-worthy-celebration-should-rethink

Disrespect is not a crime but that latter vex me.

How can you tell our president say "you no send am message"

...and look at how quick the second letter leaked (that was back dated to look like it was sent the following day).

1st Leaked Memo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy1AhvO9EUc

2nd Leaked Memo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lhXM-iKWTs

You go explain tire

What is the GDP of Qatar instead of these silly journeys
Tinubu should schedule a visit to the 36 states

It's a pity...

Alot of people do not see past their nose just because they feel they have a grugde to settle with Tinubu.

Many want to see Tinubu fail at all cost even if it means causing them discomfort, disrespect, harm or hunger. Some don't mind if their short nose is cut off. They just don't care as long as he fails.

These are acts of sabotage. Yes... Nigerians sabotaging Nigeria because of grugde.

If Nigeria works... It's Nigerians who will benefit!

"The offensive note verbale from the Qataris is tantamount to someone accepting your request to visit his or her home while telling you at the same time that they won’t be home".

What is special about Qatar that we should be courting for investment?

It's a big shame that a more endowed nation like Nigeria has through sheer mismanagement of our resources over time reduced herself to a beggar nation .

Nigeria must succeed, like it or not

aribisala0:
What is the GDP of Qatar instead of these silly journeys
Tinubu should schedule a visit to the 36 states

[color=#006600][/color]

If not for tribalism and religious voting pattern, what concerns Nigeria with those unknown countries?
If Nigeria had gotten people like Osibanjo, Peter Obi back to back maybe since after 1999 I believe the country will be highly developed.
A lot of people are not ashamed of themselves, just look at the kind of people they keep voting and they have the guts to say they are the giant of Africa.

9japride:
[color=#006600][/color]

If not for tribalism and religious voting pattern, what concerns Nigeria with those unknown countries?
If Nigeria had gotten people like Osibanjo, Peter Obi back to back maybe since after 1999 I believe the country will be highly developed.
A lot of people are not ashamed of themselves, just look at the kind of people they keep voting and they have the guts to say they are the giant of Africa.

People like Peter Obi? Based on his great speeches or his outstanding achievement as governor of Anambra.
Please

Ibos are Obi 's main supporters he got 90% in all SE states so tribalism is significant in his emergence
There is no evidence on which we can predict Peter Obi will do well as president that is if I am going to be fair to him at best we will say untested and unproven.

Having said that there is nobody who can fix Nigeria's problems overnight especially within the context of this Presidential system that is set up to encourage looting.

The immediate solution should be restructuring. You will observe that all states will not be in the same position I am sure the South would do well in a restructured country

Even now is it the dollar that made us stop farming and become so.dependent on foreign rice??

The immediate priority this year should be food production
Who controls the land? State government. Let us reduce the size of the Federal government and devolve power and resources to the states
I am sure the South East will be fine

Since obj we have been seeking foreign investors yet only portfolio investors are coming. That should tell you that foreign investors know we have minimal infrastructure to support factories

aribisala0:

People like Peter Obi? Based on his great speeches or his outstanding achievement as governor of Anambra.
Please

Ibos are Obi 's main supporters he got 90% in all SE states so tribalism is significant in his emergence
There is no evidence on which we can predict Peter Obi will do well as president that is if I am going to be fair to him at best we will say untested and unproven.

Having said that there is nobody who can fix Nigeria's problems overnight especially within the context of this Presidential system that is set up to encourage looting.

The immediate solution should be restructuring. You will observe that all states will not be in the same position I am sure the South would do well in a restructured country

Even now is it the dollar that made us stop farming and become so.dependent on foreign rice??

The immediate priority this year should be good production
Who controls the land? State government. Let us reduce the size of the Federal government and devolve power and resources to the states
I am sure the South East will be fine

[color=#006600][/color]

Peter Obi got the highest vote in south east because Igbos knows the better candidate.
In every election Igbos always vote the better choice.
I don't believe that statement that no one can fix Nigerian problem overnight. It's mainly the excuse our leaders use to deceive the masses.
It's just like putting MC Olu@mo to head finance ministry and one will be expecting a miracle.
You can't give what you don't have. Peter Obi is not a Saint or even the smartest Nigerian, the good quality about him is that he's ready to work and to be held accountable.
The person that won the election hardly related with the masses and very egoistic. And you expect such person to care about you?
Until we start telling ourselves the truth and leave religion and tribalism aside, the country will keep moving in circles.

Ok

They should.

The worst part of those wishing the country goes under the water is that they don’t even av an international passport not to talk of hope of going any where.

I see some M0r0ns praying for army to take over as if once army take over they will hand over to PO. Such deluded eediots.

You can hate Buhari , hate Tinubu love PO but once u hate ur country u can’t prosper in it.

Just carry ur bag and go and labour in Libya.

“The Bible says pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love thee”

May be the reason for ur wretched state of life is because u dey wish doom where u dey hustle. You cnt prosper even if Obama takes over.

U are praying Nigeria goes under the water because ur candidate Atiku who lives in Dubai till election is close did not win. Bunch of “useful eediots”

How come you guys can’t elect quality leaders in your 5 states since una dey elect BETTER CANDIDATES

9japride:
[color=#006600][/color]

Peter Obi got the highest vote in south is because Igbos knows the better candidate.
In every election Igbos always vote the better choice.
I don't believe that statement that no one can fix Nigerian problem overnight. It's mainly the excuse our leaders use to deceive the masses.
It's just like putting MC Olu@mo to head finance ministry and one will be expecting a miracle.
You can't give what you don't have. Peter Obi is not a Saint or even the smartest Nigerian, the good quality about him is that he's ready to work and to be held accountable.
The person that won the election hardly related with the masses and very egoistic. And you expect such person to care about you?
Until we start telling ourselves the truth and leave religion and tribalism aside, the country will keep moving in circles.

That's right

Not like they want the country to work...


Since the person dere is not Wu dey like they don't want the country to work dere 247 prayer is make the country fail more so they can av justification for not liking him.....

This Obi people think the joke is on the government and the mugus are insulting the President forgetting that the joke is on them as a Nigerian

Frank Nweke might soon be cancelled. I really wonder why some people hate their country this much.

The President is being too lenient with them. Fish them out and make examples of them.

So who is Frank Nweke Jnr Blaming now

Anyways, I remember him as a Bright mind Minister for Information under Pres Obasanjo.

Not the Buffoons like Lai Mohammed APC came out with.

Tinubu insulted Nigerians when he approved 1 billion naira for ordinary minimum wage review.

9japride:
[color=#006600][/color]

If not for tribalism and religious voting pattern, what concerns Nigeria with those unknown countries?
If Nigeria had gotten people like Osibanjo, Peter Obi back to back maybe since after 1999 I believe the country would be highly developed.
A lot of people are not ashamed of themselves, just look at the kind of people they keep voting and they have the guts to say they are the giant of Africa.

like he did in Anambra and made Anambra the envy of other 35 states including FCT. We can see how Nigerians from other states are migrating to Anambra since 2006 to enjoy all dividend of governance Obi left behind. o
,other states in Nigeria are also running to Anambra to learn how Peter Obi made Anambra the nation's industrial hub, transforming Anambra from consumption to production in 8 years. No wonder Anambra's standard of living is the best in Nigeria, his consumption to production also reflected in their IGR as the top non-FG dependent state in Nigeria 😂

9japride:
[color=#006600][/color]

Peter Obi got the highest vote in south is because Igbos knows the better candidate.
In every election Igbos always vote the better choice.
I don't believe that statement that no one can fix Nigerian problem overnight. It's mainly the excuse our leaders use to deceive the masses.
It's just like putting MC Olu@mo to head finance ministry and one will be expecting a miracle.
You can't give what you don't have. Peter Obi is not a Saint or even the smartest Nigerian, the good quality about him is that he's ready to work and to be held accountable.
The person that won the election hardly related with the masses and very egoistic. And you expect such a person to care about you?
Until we start telling ourselves the truth and leave religion and tribalism aside, the country will keep moving in circles.

People like Ikpeazu, OUk, Ekweremadu, Peter Obi,
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has been ruling you since 1999. Who voted for them

Ok Sir

But the fact that the memo leaked is a direct result of the bitter and crude politics employed by the APC in their quest for power. All the dirty dealings they did to get to power has gone full round to haunt them badly now.

Secondly, I don't know why our President will be travel-hunting. As a citizen, I expect our leader to sit at home now and find solutions to our issues and if there are needs for travels, it should be for serious engagements. From the contents of the letter, it seems the business forum was an afterthought from the Nigerian side, probably to add more justification for the need to go to Qatar in the midst of crippling forex demands on the country.

It is that afterthought decision that has become an embarrassment on the whole country. It seems Nigeria does not have a cogent foreign policy it is pursuing presently. Instead, it seems things are being done more on whimsical grounds than on strategic grounds.

Lastly, what we are seeing playing out in the country in terms of reaction is as a result of the divisiveness of the APC central govt. The past president instead of healing the country after winning a bitter election, propounded the 97%, 5% "unmathematical" theory. He doubled down on that with his dot-in-a-circle statement. The death knell was the obvious nepotism in his appointment, which he doubled on in his final term. His successor from same party has not fared better. While the former man actively sought to northernise public service, the new man is attempting to Yorubanise. That is why national unity and cohesion has become a forgotten issue under APC. The party needs to retrace itself. It can retain power via divisiveness but it should forget about leading the country even with the power.

9japride:
[color=#006600][/color]

If not for tribalism and religious voting pattern, what concerns Nigeria with those unknown countries?
If Nigeria had gotten people like Osibanjo, Peter Obi back to back maybe since after 1999 I believe the country will be highly developed.
A lot of people are not ashamed of themselves, just look at the kind of people they keep voting and they have the guts to say they are the giant of Africa.

Uncle, elections are over. Burundi your hatred and concentrate on Nigeria's progress. By the way, which prophet told you those 2 you mentioned would have been better?

adefitim:
How come you guys can’t elect quality leaders in your 5 states since una dey elect BETTER CANDIDATES

a very very good and technical question
The over 50% increment in FAAC they have been getting by almost all the acclaim " good leaders they know how best to elect from governors down to both federal and state legislators " what has most of them been doing with the excess FAAC they have been getting since last year or are those special leaders they elected not getting those funds too.What played out in that last election as you rightly said was ethnicity and to a larger extent they played it more as 90% of SE states votes went to LP alone as opposed other region the voting patterns were well spread among all the parties

Respect is earned and not lobbied for.

If Nigeria demands respect, then they MUST earn it!

brain54:
It's a pity...

Alot of people do not see past their nose just because they feel they have a grugde to settle with Tinubu.

Many want to see Tinubu fail at all cost even if it means causing them discomfort, disrespect, harm or hunger. Some don't mind if their short nose is cut off. They just don't care as long as he fails.

These are acts of sabotage. Yes... Nigerians sabotaging Nigeria because of grugde.

If Nigeria works... It's Nigerians who will benefit!

You're brain absent. Bet you didn't read the full article.

adefitim:
How come you guys can’t elect quality leaders in your 5 states since una dey elect BETTER CANDIDATES

The ones imposed by INEC and the courts abi
Look at Otti
He has the people's mandate. Can't say the same for Uzodinma and Mbah