Nigeria’s ability to project influence and command respect internationally is closely tied to the way the country is governed at home, Professor Femi Otubanjo of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs has said.
Otubanjo stated this on Tuesday while speaking on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, during a discussion on President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“A nation’s domestic image determines its international image.”
According to the professor, Nigeria cannot separate its international reputation from the experiences of its citizens and the manner in which government manages the country’s affairs.
He said the development of technology and the speed at which information travels had made it difficult for countries to shield their domestic realities from the rest of the world.
“There is no remote country, as information is easily accessed from any location on earth.”
Otubanjo’s comments came amid renewed debate over Nigeria’s representation at the 81st UNGA, where Vice President Kashim Shettima is leading the Nigerian delegation in place of Tinubu.
Shettima is scheduled to deliver Nigeria’s national statement on Thursday and participate in high-level and bilateral meetings during the General Assembly. The Federal Government has said he is attending with the full mandate of the President and that Nigeria’s interests will be fully represented.
But Otubanjo argued that Nigeria’s international standing should not be measured only by the presence of its leaders at major diplomatic gatherings.
The professor called for what he described as a “domestic reset” in the way the country is governed, saying good governance, accountability, transparency and frugality should form part of Nigeria’s effort to improve its image.
He said Nigeria’s aspirations on the international stage would have greater meaning when they are supported by confidence in the country’s institutions and the management of public resources.
According to him, Nigeria’s desire to be recognised as the Giant of Africa and to exercise greater influence in continental and global affairs must be accompanied by attention to the welfare of its citizens.
ON GOVERNMENT PRIORITIES
Otubanjo also raised concerns about government expenditure, using some recent spending decisions to question what he described as the priorities of those in government.
“Those listening to him know that the Federal Government had just spent N21 billion on building a house for Shettima; spent $150 million on an aircraft; wasted N90 billion for people to go to Mecca…”
He said public expenditure should be assessed against the needs of ordinary Nigerians and the responsibility of government to improve their living conditions.
“Nigeria has leaders who don’t know how to order their priorities and focus on their people.”
Otubanjo said the issue was not simply about individual expenditure decisions but about the broader perception created when government spending is viewed against the economic difficulties faced by citizens.
He argued that such domestic perceptions inevitably become part of the country’s international image because developments in Nigeria are now readily accessible to audiences beyond the country.
NIGERIA’S GLOBAL AMBITIONS
The professor also linked Nigeria’s domestic governance to the country’s ambitions to play a more influential role internationally.
He said Nigeria wants to retain its position as the Giant of Africa and strengthen its influence within organisations such as the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States.
He also pointed to Nigeria’s interest in reform of the United Nations Security Council and the push for stronger African representation in the global decision-making system.
The 81st UNGA is being held under the theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all,” with 193 UN member states participating in the General Assembly.
Nigeria’s delegation, led by Shettima, is expected to advance the country’s positions on international cooperation, development, peace and security and reform of global institutions.
Otubanjo’s argument also extended to the controversy over Tinubu’s decision not to attend the UNGA physically.
He said the President’s physical presence at the General Assembly should not be considered the only measure of Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement, particularly where the country is represented by senior officials.
“The main thing is Nigeria’s national interest.”
He maintained that Nigeria could pursue its diplomatic interests through its Vice President, ministers, ambassadors and other officials assigned to international engagements.
The Federal Government has similarly said Shettima is carrying the full mandate of Tinubu at the General Assembly, where he will represent Nigeria in high-level meetings and bilateral engagements.
Meanwhile, opposition parties as well as Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has questioned the repeated absence and called for an explanation, while the Federal Government has rejected speculation about the reason for Tinubu’s non-attendance.
Tinubu is currently on annual leave in Europe after departing Nigeria on August 30. The Presidency said on Monday that he had extended his working vacation by a few days and would return to Nigeria at the weekend.
For Otubanjo, however, the larger question goes beyond whether the President is physically present at the UNGA.
His argument is that Nigeria’s credibility abroad is ultimately connected to what happens within its borders and how the country’s citizens experience governance.
“A nation’s domestic image determines its international image.”
