A Case for Citizens Diplomacy
Agreed that those Nigerians who have criminal tendencies are in the absolute minority even outside the country, nevertheless the diabolical activities of this minority have painted the whole lot of us in a very negative light. In Benin Republic, in Niger, South Africa amongst other African nations talk less of the impression in far away […]
Agreed that those Nigerians who have criminal tendencies are in the absolute minority even outside the country, nevertheless the diabolical activities of this minority have painted the whole lot of us in a very negative light. In Benin Republic, in Niger, South Africa amongst other African nations talk less of the impression in far away Europe and the United States.
A few months ago I was in Philadelphia, USA to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures. The taxi driver who took us round the city was incidentally a Malian who was just five years old in the country and was already a citizen. He told us very frankly the views of even other Africans on those Nigerians that are living in the city and its environs.
Hesitatingly though, after a series of pressures and questions on how he managed to secure American citizenship within such a very short period of stay and why most of those Nigerians around the state are illegal residents, he told us that the problem is that most young Nigerians especially those who were in the same profession of taxi driving are called ‘akata’, whatever that means. The Americans are increasingly finding it difficult to trust Nigerians in virtually all spheres because our image is really very negative.
It was a painful testimony which I have often tried to corroborate whenever I find myself outside the shores of my father land. The reason is simple, I carry the green passport, I always detest the way I am treated at the point of entry anytime I am in Europe or the United States.
In Johannesburg, South Africa, just two nights ago, I was attending along with the Vice President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, the Governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje, Minister of Culture, Jibrin Gada and a host of other senior officials of government including the former Deputy President of South Africa and now Chairperson of the ruling African National Congress, the award ceremony in honor of Nigerians who have excelled in various fields of endeavor within South Africa, Kingdoms of Swaziland and Lesotho organized by the High Commission of Nigeria in South Africa, yet I came face to face with some glaring realities of the negative image that Nigerians, though a few of them, have foisted on us all and the country at large.
I sat with my publisher, Sam Nda Isaiah, next to a very vibrant young South African couple who after the initial pleasantries opened up on their views and those of several others like them on who and what a Nigerian is. Traders in corruption in South Africa the young lady summed up.
Their opinion about a lot of Nigerians living in South Africa is that they are drug dealers, shady deals experts and apparently a bunch of unreliable human beings who are always eager to make it fast without necessarily laboring hard. These views to a great extent is diminishing the fundamental role that Nigeria did play in the liberation struggles in not just South Africa, but the Southern African sub region.
The young couples were amazed when for instance I told them that as a university student in the early 1980s, I had contributed part of my student’s allowance to the liberation struggle. As a member of the Youth Solidarity on Southern Africa, (YUSSSA), we donated part of our scholarship allowances to further the course of the liberation war in South Africa.
The young people don’t know and they are not even taught in schools. This means that contemporary African history is no longer part of the curricula in our schools, maybe throughout the continent. This is a dangerous situation which definitely could lead to more unpleasant situations now and in the future.
I see the Nigerian merit award in Johannesburg as a very welcome development which will go a long way in changing the damming impressions that some people have about Nigeria and Nigerians. I am of the view that in as much as I frown at Professor Akunyili’s idea and straggles of rebranding, the need to project those from among us who are decent is innovative. What needs to be done in my view is that it should henceforth constitute part of Nigeria’s foreign policy that the well being of citizens be the primary focus of diplomacy. This is my understanding of the concept of citizen diplomacy which Chief Ojo Maduwekwe is taking seriously.
The reality is that a few of us have created so much bad image for all of us and the task of wiping this negatively held view is for all and sundry unless the nation wants evil to define what is good. This is not what other serious countries do. The responsibility is for us all and we have no choice than to face the problem head on.
Nigerian missions abroad, especially in those countries where Nigerians are facing difficulties due to the behaviors of our few disgruntled citizens must step up effort and copy the Marwa initiative if only to discourage those who are dubious and encourage hard work and dignity in honest living.