Abstract
The
study is an assessment of Nigeria’s foreign policy under the administration of
President Goodluck Jonathan . This work is necessitated on the premise that no
state in the modern times can avoid involvement in international affairs, and
this involvement must be systematic and based on certain principles. The objective of this work was to determine if
Nigeria’s policy under the period in view had significant impact on Nigerian
global image. Data for this study was obtained from secondary sources; the
expose facto research design was adoptedwhile the qualitative descriptive
method was adopted to analyze data. The concentric circles theory formed a
framework of analysis. The research unfolded findings that Nigerian foreign
policy under Jonathan’s administration had less positive impact on Nigeria’s
global image; internal challenges were responsible for poor implementation of
policies. The study recommended the re-implementation of Nigeria’s vital
interest, which involves the security of lives and properties, protection of
her society and defense of independence. Nigerians in Diaspora must be
recognized and encouraged because they play a permanent role in advancing the
foreign policies of the country.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study
All states have some kind of relations
with one another. No state in the modern times can avoid the involvement in the
international affairs, and this involvement must be systematic and based on
certain principles. In other words, states have to behave with one another in a
particular manner. The framing of the foreign policy is, therefore, an
essential activity of a modern state, for a state without foreign policy is
like a ship without rider which may drift aimlessly and may be swept away by a
storm of current events. What a state intends to do is defined by its
interests; what is actually able to achieve is a function of its military and
economic capability as well as the quality of its diplomacy. The history of
Nigerian foreign policy since 1960 has constantly been changing, though the
principles guiding her foreign relations remain the same (Gambari, 1989).
Nigerian leaders are largely responsible for these unstable external relations.
Apparantly, Nigeria’s foreign policy is deeply rooted in Africa with strategic
emphasis on political and economic cooperation, peaceful dispute resolution,
and global nonalignment (Gambari, 1989). Nigerian leaders also have their
attention fixed on the successful implementation of these principles. However,
the influence of individual personality on Nigeria’s relations with other
countries cannot be totally ignored as different leaders adopt different styles
in conducting external relations.
Examining the personality of the leader
both at the theoretical and practical levels is therefore important to the
understanding of Nigeria’s foreign policy. This is largely due to the fact that
critical historical analysis revealed that the country’s foreign policy is
synonymous to personality of the leader on board at any given time. However, it
is important to accentuate that Nigeria’s foreign policy started at moderate
level since independence in 1960. This may be largely due to smooth power
relinquishing that occurred between Nigeria and the then colonial master
(Britain). The crux of the matter remains that, there was nothing in the
pattern and traditions of Nigerian foreign policy from independence to the
emergence of Sani Abacha as Head of state to suggest that the country would
become a pariah state in the international system. Even the speech of the Prime
Minister, Tafawa Balewa on Independence Day October 1, 1960 seemed to indicate
that Nigeria was properly focused and her mind set firmly directed at the goal
of her foreign policy. He declared thus;
I have indeed very confident that, based
on the happy experience of a successful partnership our future relations with
the United Kingdom will be more cordial than ever, bound together as we shall
be in the common wealth by a common allegiance to her majesty Queen Elizabeth
whom we proudly acclaim as Queen of Nigeria (hence) we are grateful to the
British Officers who we have known, first as masters and then as leaders and
finally as partners but always as friends (Balewa, 1960:26).
Immediately after, on October 7, 1960, Nigeria
registered herself as the 99th member of the United Nations thereby becoming a
recognized member of the international community. By her resources and even
size, Nigeria was at the fore-front of Africa, providing with others, the
necessary leadership and to fight the clutches of colonialism, neo-colonialism,
underdevelopment, poverty, famine and racial discrimination. In fairness, some
leaders gave the nation its right of place.
President Olusegun Obasanjo, at
inauguration in May, 1999, inherited a nation with a battered image and without
credibility externally. In his determination to regain Nigeria’s lost glory and
re-integrate it into the civilized world, he engaged in a deft shuttle
diplomacy across the major capitals of the globe. It is in view of the above imperative
that the study is set to examine the gains and challenges of Obasanjo’s
administration on Nigeria foreign policy in the 21st century.
President
Good luck Jonathan following his victory in the 2011 elections, before the
anxious 100 days in office, directed presidential advisory council on
international relations (PACIR) to coordinate the reforming of Nigeria's
foreign policy to be investment oriented. Coupled with his interactive forum
with Nigerians abroad during his foreign visits, the president asked the
nation's foreign policy experts, seasoned diplomats, professionals and
intelligentsia to chart a new way for the future without discarding the past.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Relations between Nigeria and other
state and non–state actors in international politics from 1999 onward were
based on democratic principles. The tit-for-tat diplomacy of late Gen. Sani
Abacha, de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998 had greatly damaged the
image of Nigeria. The government was accused of human rights abuses and was
repeatedly condemned by the U.S. State Department. There were break in
relationship with many countries with threats of economic sanctions from
others. Apart from this, the government was characterized by an inconsistent
foreign policy which made Nigeria a scorn in the comity of nations.
The goal of
every foreign policy is to establish and maintain a cordial relationship with
other nations as well as to build a good image for a nation and meet its
national or domestic interest. This invariably means that foreign policy is
important in formulating, maintaining and sustaining a nation's good image. The
Jonathan administration, like many other administrations in Nigeria has never
lacked good foreign policies. The problem of Nigeria's foreign policy that is
affecting the country's image is not in formulation, but in implementation
[Nwankwo O (2013)].
In response
to this, the research work therefore aims at assessing
Nigerian foreign policy under
President Goodluck Jonathan's administration from 2011-2015. The research will
also find out the extent of implementation of the foreign policy issues that
President Jonathan focused on to implement.
1.3 Research
questions
1.
Did Nigeria’s Foreign Policy under Goodluck Jonathan
regime have any positive impact on Nigerian’s image globally?
2.
How
has international organisation enhanced Nigerian’s economic development?
3.
What were the challenges of implementation of Nigeria's
foreign policy Under Goodluck Jonathan's administration?
1.4 Objectives
of the study
This study has both broad and specific objectives. The broad
objective of this study is to evaluate Nigeria’s foreign policy under
theadministration of President Goodluck Jonathan 2011 to 2015. However, the
specific objectives are as follows:
1.
To determine if Nigeria’s Foreign Policy
under President Goodluck Jonathan regime had any implication on Nigeria's
global image.
2.
To
examine how international organisation enhanced Nigerian’s economic
development.
3.
To ascertain the challenges of implementation of
Nigeria's foreign policy Under Goodluck Jonathan's administration
1.5 Scope of the Study
This study focuses on Nigeria’s foreign
policy under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan 2011 to 2015, in
relation with its achievements with the regional body of Ecowas. It looks at
the influence of personality on the conduct of foreign policy. Other areas
which this study covers include the domestic factors that influenced the
foreign policy of Goodluck Jonathan. Moreover, the key achievements of Goodluck
Jonathan foreign policy as regards domestic economic growth, political
stability, regional security, and international participation are covered in
this research. However, the research will be limited to the foreign policy
implementations of President Goodluck Jonathan and does not intend to provide a
biography of the man nor do a comprehensive study of all his political
activities in Nigeria......
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Item Type: Project Material | Attribute: 61 pages | Chapters: 1-5
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