HOW PBAT RE-INVENTS NIGERIA’S POLITICAL SPECTRUM. By M K Ilyasu
HOW PBAT RE-INVENTS NIGERIA’S POLITICAL SPECTRUM.
By
M K Ilyasu
Nigeria operates a competitive electoral system, but political power is heavily influenced by elite bargaining, patronage networks, and regional power-sharing.
A realistic and effective political strategy they say, is at least important to a nation as its political leadership.
Interestingly, our PBAT political leadership campaign slogan at his outing in 2023 was touted in our local vernacular “Emi lokan” which simply translate to “my turn”.
Politically we share great concerns with that statement, which supposes a warning about a dangerous combination of traits in political leadership.
Let me explain further.
Why It Is Dangerous in Statesmanship.
British historian and political thinker Arnold J. Toynbee was famous for devoting time to bring to fore examples where “A leader who is completely sure of himself but changes principles whenever it suits him can become extremely dangerous”.
This could lead to unwavering confidence in one’s own judgment or policy, often bordering on arrogance because a leader with this trait rarely doubts themselves or re-examines their assumptions. Un-varying self-assurance tempered by an ever-varying opportunism is perhaps the most dangerous equipment that statesmanship can have.
NIGERIA IN THE BRICS
In my last article titled An Evaluation Of The Dominant Hypothesis In US Foreign Relations, I promised to examine Nigeria’s interest in BRICS by looking into how trending political events might not favor our position in that forum.
This is a country that continues to nourish its unresolved love-hate relationship with its Western partners, her ambivalence that reflects her pride in ethnic pluralism and the desire for cultural homogeneity as Africans, a perfect ideological alibi that goes on justifying it is chocking in a stifling inferiority complex.
How can you serve TWO MASTERS with varying degrees of interest and claim to be considered serious?
Opportunism implies flexibility without consistent moral or strategic principles.
Nigeria cannot be seen shifting policies opportunistically, guided by convenience rather than principle because it amounts to creating a form of recklessness; confident leadership without stable guiding values.
Our leadership may always be required to justify contradictory policies; manipulate situations for short-term gains which could lead the country into strategic miscalculations or moral compromises.
As an example, let us consider what happened to Zaire during the leadership of President Mobutu Sese Seko (May God Have Mercy on his Soul). He was reputed to have ruled with strong personal confidence in his authority while opportunistically aligning with different international partners. He positioned himself as a strategic ally to which ever side could sustain his regime, but this opportunism combined with unquestioned personal rule eventually weakened state institutions and contributed to the regime’s collapse.
We don’t want that to happen here, do we?!!
AMBASSADORIAL APPOINTMENTS.
The article written as “Letter of Rejection” addressed to the President of Mexico, copied to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by Valentine Obienyem published online, went on to examine the dangers to which diplomatic etiquette in democracy is particularly susceptible, and how Nigeria must resist the urge to its existential trappings in the pursuit of its primary diplomatic objectives.
Ambassador designate Mr Reno Omokri is a household name in Nigeria, apart from being publicly highly opinionated, he never shied away from controversy especially on matters of leadership. What Mr Valentine Obienyem stated in his letter was a whole mark of Mr Reno Omokri.
It is interesting to note how Mr Obienyem without mentioning his pedigree was able to situate contextually what PBAT must consider in the appointment of Mr Reno Omokri.
But what baffles most of us was the silence of MFA and Foreign Affairs Committees in the National Assembly who were statutory responsible to screen and where possible to intervene by drawing the attention of Mr President on the very important ethical demands on Ambassadorial appointments.
Indeed, without prejudice to Presidential powers, it is within his constitutional powers to appoint an Ambassador as his representative which in turn dualises the representation as that of the President and also of the country.
Having all my working experience with Foreign Affairs Ministry, the issue of Mr Reno Omokri is a matter that requires serious consideration.
There is an underlying tradition in diplomacy that has always insisted that the prime qualities of a good diplomat are truthfulness and honesty, reinforced with calmness, patience, good temper, modesty and loyalty. This is a virtue that his appointment must represent. He must imbibe the true image of his Principal.
Even though professionals amongst which career diplomats belong have been reduced to glorified messengers of details crafted by politicians, concerns of diplomacy remain substantially credible in nature.
Firstly, human nature never changes. Going in self-belief combined with opportunity to serve as the personal representative of Mr President, there is a tendency to contradict extent govt policies to immediate personal advantage. Such a person may always justify contradictory actions while remaining convinced of his own correctness, thereby undermining coherent policy and ethical governance.
Secondly, he must imbibe the civil way of settling international differences without condemnation and name calling,
And lastly, the most persuasive method at the disposal of an Ambassador is his word of an honest man, not a PERSONA representing an HONEST President.
Long Love the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Mallam Mohammed Kabir ILYASU a retired foreign affairs officer, is an author, public affairs commentator
16th March 2026
