Bush’s proposed visit to Africa

President George W. Bush Jnr. of United States of America will from February 15-21 visit Africa. He will be in five African countries including Benin Republic, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia. Unlike five years ago, Bush would not visit Nigeria.

Bush’s choice of countries to visit should not have aroused concern but for the objectives of the visit which Dana Perino, White House Press Secretary, stated was to “review first hand the progress made since his last visit in 2003 in efforts to increase economic development and fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and other treatable diseases, as a result of the United States’ robust programmes in these areas.”


Nigeria featured prominently on Bush’s visit in 2003 where he pledged and gave assistance in areas mentioned. It is surprising the US government would want first hand information on progress in these other countries while it deliberately left out Nigeria.


The US can decide which countries to visit just as a host country might chose to turn down an offer of visit by another country.


However the reasons given for the visit to Africa dictate that in view of Nigeria’s status in the continent it should be on the itinerary of the US President, if only to have first hand feel of progress made in the identified areas and for the US to determine areas of further assistance if need be.
Bush’s decision to leave out Nigeria during his coming visit is instructive.

Those in-charge of our foreign policy should learn quickly from this. Our nation is sovereign and should not pander to the selfish interests of another country — not even the United States.


Our diplomats should embrace diplomacy that would not diminish the sovereignty of our country. In December, they hurriedly packaged a state visit at the instance of US government for President Umaru Yar’Adua. The purpose was to force AFRICOM on the nation.


President Yar’Adua due to mounting public outrage at home could not accede to the request of the American government. For jettisoning its request, Bush may be showing his displeasure, but the Americans must have learnt too that we can say no.


Nigeria should call the bluff of US and focus more on ways that would make it a force to reckon with in Africa and the world. Relationships among nations must be symbiotic. No nation has a right to impose its views on another.

The Nigerian government will do well by putting the US where it belongs while pursuing our national interests.


When the Americans realise that we want to assert our sovereignty, they will accord us some respect. Bush’s presidency is in its twilights and cannot do much for Nigeria before he leaves office.