NIGERIA AND THE COMMON WEALTH (1960 – 1980)
Abstract
Nigeria has been the chief architect and chief negotiator of peace in Africa both before and after independence. As a result, in the 1950s and especially after its own independence in 1960, Nigeria became the main operator of the engine room of the African independence movement.
Not surprisingly, Nigeria’s external relations have generally been characterized by a focus on Africa and adherence to the fundamental principles and objectives of African unity and independence, peaceful resolution of disputes, non-alignment, and regional economic cooperation and development.
Thus, Nigeria’s foreign policy has been guided by these same principles and objectives since its independence in 1960, particularly the promotion of her national interests and the policy of afro-centricity in relation to her ability to exercise hegemonic influence in the region.
While the main thrust of Nigeria’s foreign policy remained constant and largely unchanged, various adjustments and modifications occurred from regime to regime, depending on the political leadership’s orientation.
This paper examines the evolution of Nigeria’s foreign policy since its independence in 1960 using content analysis. It also identifies the issues, strategies, and constraints involved, as well as the challenges and milestones of Nigeria’s international relations in general, from regime to regime, over the course of the country’s fifty-year independence.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Study’s Context
To provide context for this study, we begin with Michael Kirby’s (2010) observation that the British Empire, forerunner to the Commonwealth of Nations, grew out of decisions, the majority of which were made in London. It is a city that never ceases to amaze visitors. Kirby (2010) was walking through Leicester Square yesterday when he noticed a landmark he had never noticed before.
A series of indicators pointing in the direction of Commonwealth countries are located in the center of that public space, circling a statue. The pointers fill every segment of the circle, indicating that members of this unique family of nations and their people can be found in every corner of our planet.
Kirby, a member of the last generation, grew up during the British Empire’s reign. Every 24 May was celebrated as Empire Day in his school days in Australia. In 1954, at a Sydney high school, he delivered a speech on the theme “The Empire and You.”
He did it with his “customary fire and vigour,” according to the school journal. The hymn “Recessional,” as usual, was sung to Kipling’s words proclaiming that the Empire had “dominion over palm and pine.” The day of the celebration, ironically, had been the birthday of the long-dead Queen Empress Victoria. He believed that Empire Day was not widely observed in the United Kingdom. Overall, the Empire never captivated Britain in the same way that Britain captivated its Empire.
Much has changed in the world and the Commonwealth in the six decades since that school assembly. My remarks address how the changes occurred, the activities that the Commonwealth excels at, the values that it proclaims that it shares, a new initiative that it has recently undertaken, and some of the issues that it must confront as it adjusts to a very different era of global relationships and challenges.
His conclusion was that the Commonwealth is a useful international association of independent nations with links to history, language, law, education, science, and civil communities, rather than an anachronism. Recent events, however, indicate a need for the
Commonwealth to be more active in upholding its members’ oft-stated commitment to the core values that define the essential reasons for its continued existence. These values include a commitment to democracy, human rights, tolerance, respect, and understanding, as well as governance principles largely inherited from the tradition that began here in London.
1.2 Problem Statement
Since its independence in 1960, Nigeria’s external relations have been characterized by a focus on Africa as a regional power and by adherence to several fundamental principles: African unity and independence; the ability to exercise hegemonic influence in the region; peaceful settlement of disputes; non-alignment and non-intentional interference in the internal affairs of other nations; and regional economic cooperation and development.
Nigeria participates in the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Non-Aligned Movement, the Commonwealth, and the United Nations in order to carry out these principles (Aluko, 1981; Akinyemi 1989).
Thus, since 1960, Nigeria’s foreign policy trends (development and formulation) have been guided by the same principles and objectives. While the main thrust of the country’s foreign policy, the promotion of its national interests and the policy of afro-centricity, remained constant, the strategy and emphasis for such protection by successive regimes varied.
While the substance of Nigeria’s foreign policy remained largely unchanged, there were various adjustments and modifications from regime to regime depending on the political leadership’s orientations. Furthermore, the current domestic (political, economic, and socio-cultural realities) and international environments have been major determinants of Nigeria’s foreign policy trends over time.
1.3 The study’s purpose
I. To assess Nigeria’s membership in the Commonwealth of Nations (foreign policy).
II. To investigate different eras of Nigerian foreign policy.
III. To investigate the goals of the Commonwealth of Nations
1.4 investigational question
I. What is the goal of common wealth of nations?
1.5 The significance of the study
It will contribute to the body of knowledge.
It will reveal various eras of Nigerian foreign policy.
It will allow academics and anyone else interested in the subject to gain a more in-depth understanding of the subject.
1.6 The Study’s Scope
This work examines the evolution (formulation and execution) of Nigeria’s foreign policy over the past eleven eras or regimes, namely the Balewa Era 1960 – 1966; the Ironsi Era – 1966; the Gowon Era 1966 – 1975; the Murtala/Obasanjo Era 1975 – 1979; the Shagari Era 1979 – 1983; the Buhari Era 1983 – 1985; the Babangida Era 1985 – 1993
NIGERIA AND THE COMMON WEALTH (1960 – 1980)
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