visit to the United State are beginning to emerge, and stakes are not
looking too good. Sources reveal that the White House is completely
disappointed about a total lack of preparedness by the Nigerian
contingent to discuss vital issues about both countries. The Obama
administration also decried a poor presentation of policy needs and
updates made by the Nigerian leader. "May be we are not reading from
the same script, but the overall message by Barack is that they should
go get themselves together, then get back with us," a White House
insider said. "We are just being polite about this because your
President doesn't seem to understand a whole lot about government,"
confided another source.
The White House was disappointed that Buhari's contingent had no
presentation about working with the United States to salvage their
crumbly economy. For instance, the Nigeria's economy under Buhari has
no prospects at the moment. The currency's exchange values is
worsening while the President visited without any economic crew.
Nigeria has a mono-economy that is dependent largely on oil, and the
United States has since suspended oil importation from Nigeria. US
imports from Nigeria, mostly crude oil and other petroleum products,
rose from more than 24 billion dollars in 2005 to over 38 billion in
2008, but dropped sharply to less than four billion last year largely
because of America's shale energy revolution. Yet President Buhari
rendered no concerns about the impending economic consequence of these
developments.
Weeks before the visit, the U.S. had communicated the significance of
the visit as an opportunity to the Buhari's regime to boot up the
relations between the two countries. Under Jonathan's administration
for instance, U.S. relations with Nigeria dropped, with officials
raising concerns about the government's ability to fight Boko Haram,
particularly after the kidnapping of some 200 Nigerian schoolgirls.
"We informed them early enough and even asked to assist them to make
considerable argument to earn exceptional U.S. support to the regime,
especially in areas of security and commerce, but they blew it,"
another source confided.
To make it worse, President Buhari shocked his hosts with his vastly
publicized comment that the US has "aided and abetted" the Boko Haram
Islamist militant group by refusing to provide weapons to Nigeria.
This comment, it was gathered angered some members of the Obama
administration who now raise doubts about President Buhari's
earnestness in collaborating with the U.S. in solving his security
problems.
Another blunder was made when President's Buhari, in defense of his
cabinet-selection delays, published an op-ed in Washington Post,
wrongly accusing President Obama of equally delaying his cabinet
selection in the initial stage of taking office. Wrote Buhari, "It is
worth noting that Obama himself did not have his full Cabinet in place
for several months after first taking office; the United States did
not cease to function in the interim."
"I don't know where he got that information," said Oshiokpekhai
Utu-Orbih, a Nigerian attorney and writer based in the United States.
"I am still trying to come in terms with the rationale of the above
statement in the said article other than the fact that President
Buhari has gone to press to lie against his host in a bid to justify
his dictatorial rule over Nigeria," Utu-Orbih said.
Utu-Orbih wrote in his own column, "After the historic election of
2008, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United
States of America on January 20, 2009. On January 21, he appointed
Hilary Clinton as Secretary of State; on February 2, 2009, he
appointed Eric Holder as Attorney General, then Ken Salazar as
Secretary of Interior on 20th January 20. Obama continued with Tom
Vislack, Agriculture January 21; Ray LaHood , Transportation January
23; Stephen Chu, Energy, January 20, and Janet Napolitano, Homeland
Security, January 21. I can go on and on. Must Buhari rewrite the
American history because of his disdain for constitutionality?"
President Buhari had reportedly stormed the U.S. with about 229-man
delegation considered the biggest in Nigerian democratic history. This
contingent it was gathered, cost Nigeria about N2.2billion. Most
disappointedly, the list of delegates and their level of preparedness
created more doubts about the President's commitment to issues of
foreign policy and commerce: a claim echoed in Buhari's speech during
the visit – a poorly composed treatise, substantially lacking, with no
connections to the objectives of his exorbitant diplomatic voyage.
Obama ceremoniously praised his guest, stating that he would discuss
how the two nations can cooperate on counter-terrorism and how the US
"can be helpful in addressing some of the corruption issues that have
held Nigeria back". But his message also signaled a "no-deal"
agreement until Buhari brings forth a credible request for
collaboration and assistance, or show some seriousness in handling his
current mandate.
-TheCableTime
No comments:
Post a Comment