AFRPN harps on democratic governance to achieve foreign policy goals

The Association of Foreign Relations Professionals of Nigeria (AFRPN) has stressed that democratic governance offers the best approach to pursue foreign policy goals of any country.

The association further stated that foreign policy is an extension of internal policy dictated by the vagaries of the external environment which is crafted around what a nation wants and does not want on the basis of its national interests from the global stage.

The President of AFRPN, Amb. (Dr) Gani Lawal ffrp, stated this in Abuja during his address to newsmen on the Fifth Annual Lecture of the AFRPN scheduled to take place on Thursday 27th July, 2023. Amb. Lawal further noted that the topic of the lecture: “Examining the Nexus between Foreign Goals and Democratic Governance” is carefully chosen to create an opportunity to listen to the perspectives of consummate diplomats and statesmen who had been for decades, in the forefront of governance and diplomacy and are still committed to the advocacy for peace, growth and economic development of Africa.

According to Amb. Lawal, there is no better time than now to dissect this topic when the country is just transiting from one Democratic government to another.

He also revealed that the lecture will be delivered by no less a personality than His Excellency, the former President of South Africa and the first commonwealth chairperson-in-office, Thabo Mbeki. The former Nigeria’s Foreign Minister and the third Commonwealth Secretary General, His Excellency Chief Emeka Anyaoku will be the Chairman of the occasion while the Chief Host and Special Guest of Honour will be Nigeria’s 15th Vice-President, Senator Kashim Shettima Mustapha, GCON.

While the 20th Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR will be the father of the day. The AFRPN President further stated: “It is often said that there is no permanent friend or enemy in the international environment but permanent interest, and as permanent national interests evolve, a friend today can become an enemy tomorrow. It is expected that a nation will weave its national interest around the weight of its Military industrial complex and natural resources to earn a favourable comparable edge in the global intercourse.

At present, the national interest of Nigeria is to build a strong economic base, fight insurgency and terrorism and decapitate the corruption monster. Therefore, finding resources to actualize these interests in the international arena remains the cornerstone of Nigeria foreign policy goals”. He also said: “Democratic governance offers the best approach to pursue these foreign policy goals.

The maxim that foreign policy is an extension of internal is better illustrated by Nigeria’s insistence on zero tolerance for military coups and undemocratic change of government in Africa, this requires that Nigeria must demonstrate exemplary leadership by tenaciously nurturing and deepening its internal democracy and assist less powerful countries to maintain their democracy”.

He added: “For Nigeria to continue to maintain leadership position it must increase its weight of military-industrial capability, economic prosperity at home and readiness to assist its neighbours and lesser third world democracies. it must also invest abundantly in the African Union mantra of Regional integration and cooperation, silencing the guns and support for less developed neighbours and conflict resolution through dialogue and compromise”.

He continued: “In conclusion, it is instructive to reiterate that the Afrocentric nature of Nigeria’s foreign policy which was birthed since Oct. 7 1960 including its variants of concentric circles, economic and citizen diplomacy must be maintained. It has served us in good stead and continues to serve us till today as exemplified by the emergence of our new president as chairman of ECOWAS on first appearance at its summit in Guinea Bissau.

We are aware of unusual and new developments such as challenges posed by non-statal actors, narcotics, proliferation of small arms and increased transnational crimes as well as new dynamics in global affairs requiring improved strategies, but we do not think there may be the need to try to reinvent the wheel, instead we are better served by strengthening what has worked and acknowledge it, and revisit what has not worked and improve on it”.

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The Association of Foreign Relations Professionals of Nigeria (AFRPN) is a society of foreign relations experts consisting of serving and retired career diplomats and ambassadors, scholars, and researchers on foreign policy and international relations. Its vision is to work with decision makers to make Nigeria and, by implication, Africa, a great player and respected voice within the international arena.