… described the meetings as unwitting jamboree of shame
The presidential candidates of the three leading political Parties, namely, PDP, APC and Labour Party, as well as some governors, have come under fire as a body of former foreign affairs ministers and retired diplomats, the Nigerian Academy of International Affairs, condemned for leaving Nigeria to hold political meetings in London, Paris and Dubai.
The body led by its President and former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi In a statement on Tuesday, described the political meetings held by some presidential candidates outside the country as ill-advised and unwitting jamboree of shame
The academy, set up for open and private debate on the emerging new world order, lamented that such a decision had already exposed Nigeria, directly or indirectly, to unwarranted Western influence.
The presidential candidates are Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Bola Tinubu of All Progressives (APC) and Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) – had held separate meetings with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and his colleague-governors in London, Paris and Dubai.
Other governors at the meetings were Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom and Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, who aligned with Wike after Abubakar emerged the presidential standard bearer of PDP and nominated Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate
.Concerned about the decisions of the presidential candidates, the academy said it was most unfortunate and heart-breaking that some Nigerian leaders had to abandon the shores of Nigeria for the ex-colonialists’ capitals of London and Paris in search of delusion-solutions to Nigeria’s problems.
The statement which was issued by Professor Bolaji Akinyemi on behalf of 17 other former foreign affairs ministers and retired diplomats, bemoan some horse-trading, which dominated their so-called talks on bringing “enduring hope to Nigeria,” centred on counting their chickens before the eggs are hatched.
According to him, the ill-advised and unwitting jamboree of shame displayed by the leading political leaders “has demonstrated once more that the Nigerian environment created and polluted by them is not conducive to their vainglorious self-importance and unearned esteem.
“Consequently, and because of their Neo-colonial mentality, which blinded them from seeing and appreciating the goodwill and resilience of Nigerians, they preferred to savour Western atmosphere.
“The implication of which is the exposure of Nigeria directly or indirectly to unwarranted Western influence, particularly as they were perceived to be washing our dirty linens in the full glare of the world,” he lamented with grave concern about the future of Nigeria.”
Other members of the academy were Lt. General Agwai Martin Luther, Prof. Joy Ogwu, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), Prof. Jide Osuntokun, Prof. Alaba Ogunsanwo, Prof. Akin Oyebode and Amb. Godknows Igali and Director General of NIIA, Prof. Eghosa Osagie,