₦airaland Forum

adebayoyemi:
CITIZEN DIPLOMACY AND RECOMMENDATIONS AIMED AT EFFECTIVELY SUSTAINING THE ESPOUSAL

WRITTEN BY:
AMATA OWIGHO DENNIS AND ADEBAYO OLUWAYEMI IYANUOLUWA.
STUDENTS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND DIPLOMACY AT BABCOCK UNIVERSITY, ILISHAN REMO. NIGERIA.


PREFACE
The concept of Citizen Diplomacy was introduced in 2007 by Chief Ojo Maduekwe under the watch of Late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua to serve as a new thrust, which aims at placing the interests of Nigerians both at home and abroad at a topmost profile. What this implies in the words of the originator is “…diplomacy of consequences, such that if you are nice to us, we will be nice to you; if you are hostile to us, we will be hostile to you.”

CONCEPTUAL ANALYSES
For the purpose of understanding which is among the rules and characteristics of academic research, it is expedient to analyze key terms central to this study.
CITIZEN: In its most general sense, an individual member of a given political society or state; by extension, one who owes allegiance to and may lawfully demand protection from the government of that state. (Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation).

DIPLOMACY: These are practices and institutions by which nations conduct their relations with one another. (Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation).
Citizen Diplomacy therefore involves the formation of an environment in which every citizen both at home and broad sees themeselves as a symbol of their nation's foreign policy objectives. In other words, Citizen Diplomacy is essentially a reflection of the governance system prevailing in a country. In addition, Ogunsanwo (2009) opines that, “it is whatever a country does outside its borders that must be in furtherance of the interests of her citizens.”
Thus, it can be inferred that the notion of Citizen Diplomacy is an indenture that has to do with the Citizens and the Government. And by extension, a mutual role between the two subjects comes under focus.
In view of the above, Citizen Diplomacy therefore can be examined from two standpoint - The citizens and The government
THE CITIZENS: It is pertinent to identify that citizens in real sense should act as good ambassadors. In a sense, they should indulge in permissible businesses. However, one would contemplate on the level at which citizens have become ‘hooligans’ by promoting vices such as: Stealing, Cybercrimes and Drug trafficking, to name a few.
THE GOVERNMENT: By virtue of the provisions of the Constitution, it is the sole responsibility of the government to guarantee the security and welfare of the people. The government should propagate order and equity as it would enable the citizens abide by the laid down principles and standards.
Nevertheless, the Citizens and government have their roles to play in enabling a “well-grounded society” and by so doing being a replica of either the good or bad image depicted by the government.
Pertaining to the foregoing analysis and judging from the Nigerian case point, it is distressing that the notion of Citizen Diplomacy is the “opposite”. For that reason, the subsequent segment of this piece of writing will focus on why Citizen Diplomacy is contrary to what it is meant to be.
THE DIGRESSION OF CITIZEN DIPLOMACY
Prior to this time, Citizens inside and outside the shores of Nigeria have been subjected to inhumane treatments from the government and thus raising questions such as the priority vested on citizens, among others.
Cases of Nigerians being denied of their rights are as follows:
Xenophobia in South Africa which started in 2008 and reemerged in 2015 and 2017, causing billions of dollars on Infrastructural damage, loss of lives and properties, among others.
Illegal detention of Citizens in the United Kingdom
Racial Discrimination in India
Killing of students, particularly in Ghana, among others.
It is therefore disheartening that the government has taken little or no steps in addressing the foregoing issues. Owing to that, it is vital to devise possible and workable solutions to tackling the issue as it is the central theme of this study.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Pertaining to the discussions in this piece of writing, the following are proposed:
The government has a significant role to play in this regard; by creating an enabling environment where both Foreign and local Investors can ‘capitalize’, by so doing, jobs will be created which will prevent the citizens from resorting to illegal means of livelihood. Also, reducing the rate of migration to other countries in search for “greener pastures" or a better life.
Secondly, the government should put in more efforts in protecting the citizenry internally (at home); as a result, other nations would see the need to respect Nigerians.
Thirdly, the Ministry of foreign affairs should have a data bank of Nigerians abroad as it is pertinent for communication purposes. In essence, the government would be accountable in guaranteeing the welfare of the citizens outside the shores of the country.
Furthermore, the government in its application of its policies should be pragmatic as opposed to being idealistic. In other words, the government should be more concerned with practical results rather than numerous paper works.
In the fifth place, the citizens as a point of fact should be good ambassadors and represent their country in positive light.
On a final note, all these recommendations would further promote an enabling environment where both parties cohabit peaceably.