CHAPTER ONE
1.1 BACKGROUND
Foreign Policy is a set of carefully articulated goals and objectives which nation-states seek
to realize and actualize in the conduct of their relationships with other states. It is also a series of
responses which a nation-state offers to the demands which other states put before it. Foreign
policy could also be defined as a set of continuously redefined attitudes and dispositions which a
state brings to the external environment in which it has to operate in the conduct of foreign
policy. For the purpose of clarity, it must be stated that anything „foreign‟ is something that is
external or coming in from a country that is not one‟s own, while a „policy on the other hand, is a
plan or a course of action agreed or chosen by an organization or government to pursue with the
hope of attaining certain expected results/gains.
Right from independence, Nigeria‟s foreign policy has been determined by several factors.
One of the most significant factors is that it is the most populous black nation on earth and this
has compelled her to shoulder the leadership of the black world assuming responsibilities far
beyond her borders. Some might say beyond her means. Even though Nigeria moved in a
measured pace, there was no doubt that the political leadership of the first republic realized that
the country had a legitimate claim to leadership and also that black people in Africa and the
diasporas looked up to Nigeria. Although, in practice, the Republic of Ghana under Dr. Kwame
Nkrumah (1909-1972) painted Nigeria as an inactive giant with feet of clay, yet Nigeria was not
found wanting when it came to defending the interests of Africans still under colonial
domination or in confronting France when they were determined to continue with the deadly
injurious policy of testing nuclear bombs in the Sah2ara against the wishes of the African people.
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The foreign policy of any country at any given time is intricately related to its domestic
politics. It, therefore, follows that a country‟s national power has direct relevance to its foreign
policy. The country is big and relatively populous having about a quarter of Africa‟s population.
This population although backward because of the level of illiteracy, constitutes a big market for
foreign investment. The size of the country and its population has given it a strategic advantage
that cannot be easily overrun.
Its location in the middle Atlantic astride major trade routes means that friendship with
Nigeria was desirable. Nigeria‟s agricultural and mineral potential was great, possessing
minerals such as oil, iron, columbite, petroleum, Uranium and gas. The educated middle class on
whom a democratic regime could be built was considerably sizeable. The only draw backs were
lack of political direction and cohesion. The country also had a fundamental flaw since it
suffered from fissiparous ethnic pulls in different directions. This inherent weakness was later to
manifest to manifest in the fratricidal civil war between 1967 and 1970. There have been various
attempts made through constitutional device to tackle the ethnic fission apparent in the country
but, there has been more of acting than action with the result that the situation has continued to
deteriorate, thus, casting a shadow on the future of the country itself.
The Murtala Mohammed/Olusegun Obasanjo regime carried forward the policy of
decolonization by its support for the MPLA regime in Angola and the provision of arms and
materials for the intensification of the war of liberation in Southern Africa. The use of Nigeria‟s
economic power as leverage against British interests in the case of nationalization by Obasanjo
of British Petroleum over the disagreement on Rhodesia showed that Nigeria had come of age.
There was no doubt that the threat of further action in the economic area was no longer to be
taken for granted. This facilitated the coming to power of blacks in Zimbabwe. Since that time
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Nigeria‟s voice has been listened to carefully in the process of decolonization and removal of
apartheid in South Africa.
The continuum of events occurring in succession leading from the past to the present and
even into the future of Nigerian foreign policy since 1960 has constantly been changing, though
the principles guiding her foreign relations remain the same. Nigerian leaders are largely
responsible for these unstable external relations.
Since Nigeria‟s foreign policy is deeply rooted in Africa with strategic emphasis on
political and economic operation, peaceful dispute resolution, and global non-alignment,
Nigerian leaders also have their attention focused on successful implementation of these
principles. However, the influence of personality on Nigeria‟s relations with other countries
cannot be ignored as different leaders adopt different styles in conducting external relations.
Examining the complexity of all the attributes, behavioral, temperamental, emotional and
mental that characterizes the leader both at the theoretical and practical levels is therefore
important in understanding Nigeria‟s foreign policy. In this research however, the foreign policy
and international diplomacy of Nigeria under President Olusegun Obasanjo‟s
administration(1999-2007) shall be analyzed. Analysis of Nigeria‟s foreign policy shows that
most if not all leaders operate within four concentric levels of national interest. The innermost
circle represents Nigeria‟s own security, independence and prosperity and is centered on its
immediate neighbors- Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger, the second circle revolves around
Nigeria‟s relations with its west African neighbors, the third circle focuses on continental
African issues of peace, development and democratization; and the fourth circle involves
Nigeria‟s relations with organizations, institutions and states outside Africa. With this in mind,
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each Nigerian Head of State or President works to ensure that no single part is affected in
pursuing the country‟s foreign policy.
The assumption of power by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo served as a catalyst in the history of
international relations as far as Nigeria was concerned. His government injected new innovations
and dynamism into the Nations foreign policy affairs. Nigeria became a regional power and
center of influence, particularly in Africa. As at inauguration in May, 1999, Obasanjo inherited a
nation with a battered image and without credibility externally. This study examines Nigeria‟s
foreign policy under President Olusegun Obasanjo‟s administration and his determination to
regain Nigeria‟s lost glory and re-integration into the international arena. It provides a detailed
background on the impact of Obasanjo‟s international diplomacy in rebuilding Nigeria‟s image
as well as imparting vigour into Nigeria‟s international politics. Study shows that President
Olusegun Obasanjo engaged in a shuttle diplomacy across the major capitals of the globe.
The nation has achieved significant gains through the regime‟s shuttle diplomacy. Apart from
the psychological relief following its re-integration and accommodation into world affairs,
Nigeria assumed the leadership of several international organizations notably the ECOWAS,
AU, and G-77. It also hosted very important international summits including those of the
Commonwealth Heads of State and government and the AU in 2004, the New Partnership for
African Development (NEPAD) in 2005, and severally the ECOWAS since 1999. The study
analyses the domestic policies of the Obasanjo‟s administration and how it shaped the country‟s
policy of partnership. It can be said therefore that the period between 1999 and 2007 Nigeria‟s
foreign policy took a new turn in restoring the image of the country through a global shuttle
diplomacy of President Olusegun Obasanjo. Therefore, the focus of this study is to examine the
role played by President Olusegun Obasanjo in restoring the image of the country, analyze his
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foreign policy posture and give an appraisal of the successes and failures in terms of domestic
and international repositioning.
Essentially, diplomacy is an established method of discourse or the art of managing
international relations chiefly by negotiation or conduct of official relations among states. The
fact that the Nigerian foreign policy and International Diplomacy in the Obasanjo years were reinvigorated cannot be over-emphasized. Obasanjo‟s administration created a sort of spark when
it came to relations with other states. And due to the fact that he was highly respected when
dealing with other heads of state, Nigeria was highly respected as well in the international system
and that enhanced the pursuit of our foreign policy. The Nigerian foreign policy has the general
purpose to ensure security, Autonomy, Welfare, and Status.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The blossoming Nigerian foreign policy of today is as result of Former President Olusegun
Obasanjo‟s administration. Relations between Nigerian 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 breaks in relationships with
many countries with threats of economic sanctions from others. Apart from this and most
importantly, the government was characterized by an inconsistent foreign policy which was
definitely not good for Nigeria and therefore made Nigeria a scorn in the comity of nations. The
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coming of President Olusegun Obasanjo and the various reforms which he embarked upon
actually brought Nigeria out of her messy and shameful situation that late Gen Sani Abacha put
the country into.
The main thrust of this research is to take an objective view regarding the foreign policy of
Nigeria during the Obasanjo years and how these policies were executed, and also to compare it
to the previous ways that Nigerian foreign policies were made and executed. It has been eluded
by voices in the Nigerian system that Obasanjo‟s administration sort of “brought back to live”
the Nigerian foreign policy and international diplomacy.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH
The research work focuses on the following objectives:
i. To examine Nigeria‟s foreign policy initiatives under Obasanjo;
ii. To identify factors that aided the re-invigoration of Nigeria‟s foreign policy and
international diplomacy during the Obasanjo years; and
iii. To evaluate the impact of Obasanjo‟s administration on the execution of Nigerian
foreign policy and international diplomacy.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The research questions which guide this research work are as follows:
i. What were the foreign policy initiatives under Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007?
ii. What are the factors that aided in the transformation of Nigeria‟s foreign policy?
iii. What strategies under Obasanjo‟s administration were implemented and how did they
impact on the execution of Nigerian foreign policy?
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1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this study is from 1999-2007. This study will pay more attention to the
opinions and doctrines about Obasanjo‟s administration and how it upheld the Nigerian
foreign policy and international diplomacy. This particular scope of study was chosen
because it was within this period of time (1999-2007) that Nigeria came under a democratic
rule and it was also at this point that Obasanjo became the a civilian president. This is not to
say the study will not look at other things like effects of the re-invigoration of our foreign
policy. The study will be as broad as possible so the paper can really explain what is meant
when people say „foreign policy and international diplomacy was re-invigorated during the
Obasanjo years” and see how it affects and benefits us as a country.
1.6 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
The research would be structured into five (5) chapters:
Chapter One will introduce Obasanjo and his years of administration by a brief background,
the objective and the scope of the study. This chapter will also present a statement of the
research problem involved and also the structure of the study.
Chapter Two focuses on the literature review and theoretical framework on foreign policy
and international diplomacy.
Chapter Three concentrates on research methodology. It is composed of Research design,
research population, research instruments, validity and reliability of instruments, and data
collection and analysis technique.
Chapter four shall cover the analysis of the study based on all the data gathered.
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Chapter five shall present a summary of findings, conclusion, and recommendations.
1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study is important for many of reasons. It provides diplomats for example a historical
explanation to the re-shaping of the Nigerian foreign policies. Secondly since the policies
established and implemented by Obasanjo were very forthcoming, this work could come in
handy for decision makers even for other countries. The study also helps to re-affirm the bold
attempt made by the democratic government under the leadership of President Olusegun
Obasanjo to rebuild the lost image of Nigeria in the comity of nations by addressing the issues of
corruption, debt and political tensions in the country.
1.8 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The primary sources include interviews, etc. This study depends on secondary sources such as
books, journals, conference proceedings and internet sources which are to be explored to enrich
this work.
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