Anybody with an intellectual interest in world affairs cannot but be disconcerted by the general spate of insecurity and uncertainties in the world today. Events within the international arena and indeed Africa in recent weeks are disturbing, especially when Nigerians and other Africans are thrown overboard while transiting the Mediterranean Sea to Europe in an attempt to escape the economic hardship occasioned by rising youth unemployment in their countries. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that about 5,100 migrants have died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean between 2013 and 2015, while 13,500 migrants were rescued and about 253,000 migrants have crossed to Europe within the same period. Most of the migrants drowned are from Algeria, Egypt, Somalia, Niger, Senegal, Mali, Zambia, Ghana and Nigeria. At the same time, the spate of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other black Africans in South Africa is equally worrisome. Bearing in mind the numerous economic challenges faced by black Africans, one is tempted to ask if Nigeria and other African countries lack the capacity to provide security as well as improve the economic well-being of their people.
In contemporary international politics, a nation’s ability to deal or interact with other nations in pursuing its national interests is determined by the perceived or real power that is ascribed to that nation. Power is an essential aspect of a nation’s relationship with the world and it nurtures capabilities that sustain the promotion of a state’s objectives in the international environment. Thus, a country is considered ‘powerful’ when it has a relative large population and territory, extensive natural resources, economic strength, military force and social stability. Converting resources into realized power in the sense of obtaining desired outcomes requires well-designed strategies and skilful leadership at various strata of the society.
A nation with stable polity and good governance, economic prosperity, technological advancement, moral authority as well as visionary leadership will find it easier to radiate power abroad. The power of nations is the power used by a nation to influence others to protect its citizens and national interests. It is the ability of a nation to exercise influence coupled with the capacity to direct the decisions and actions of others in the international environment to its advantage. It is a reflection of how a state harnesses the elements of its national power for active engagement in the international arena. The elements of national power include but not limited to industrial capacity, natural resources, technology, geography, population and military capabilities. The strength of all the elements of power is to some degree dependent on the wealth of a nation.
Nigeria’s emergence as a regional power was partly because of the large revenue accruing to the nation from the sale of crude oil. This has made Nigeria to exercise soft power, that is, the use of economic influence in the past within its sphere of influence in Africa. The use of soft power was to enable restoration of the dignity of the black race and eradication of colonialism and apartheid from South Africa. When Nigeria’s power was at its peak, Nigerians were respected in Africa and other parts of the world.
Now that there is drop in the price of crude oil in the international market and the revenue accruing to Nigeria has reduced considerably, will power of nation still count as there are xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other blacks in South Africa? With a population of about 173 million, Nigerians are about 15.57 percent of the total population of Africans which is 1.111 billion people. That means that in a continent of 54 sovereign nations, one in every six Africans is a Nigerian, while in the West African sub-region of 16 countries comprising about 310 million people, one out of every two West Africans is a Nigerian. Accordingly, it is necessary for Nigeria to strive towards the protection of its citizens and prevention of crisis in Africa and other parts of the world.
The situation today is a far cry from what it used to be in the 1970s when Nigeria was regarded as a political hegemon in Africa. Nigeria has declined to a pariah status such that a country like South Africa which was assisted in the past has now turned its back against Nigerians. South Africans now accuse Nigerians of taking over their jobs and marrying the best of their women. Whatever the reasons, Nigerians are now being attacked alongside other nationals, especially black people. Is it because Nigeria no longer has the political and economic clout in the continent of Africa that has enabled South Africans to start xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and indeed other black Africans? Are Nigerians or other black Africans the target of the attack in South Africa? Is it right to blame South Africans when we cannot fix our economy and make life meaningful for about 20 million unemployed?
Despite several efforts to rebrand Nigeria for almost a decade, Nigeria has been identified with issues of drug trafficking, kidnapping, election violence, corruption, amongst others. It is unfortunate that violence has now taken the centre stage in our national life. All perpetrators and masterminds of election violence and political assassinations are walking freely in the country but we complain about South Africans who see Nigerians as opportunists. Who do we hold responsible for those Nigerians who lost their lives during the just concluded elections?
People will always migrate. Nigeria, however, needs to improve its economy and provide enabling environment for job creation to reduce the number of Nigerians migrating to other nations and committing crimes punishable by death, as was the case with four Nigerians killed by firing squad in Indonesia. When certain events occur in Africa depending upon their intensity and magnitude, which are likely to affect the well-being of Nigerians, the government cannot be a spectator. It is the responsibility of any government to respond in an appropriate manner necessary to avert disaster or take adequate measure to ensure harmony, peace and tranquillity amongst Africans.
As Nigerians, we need to be honest with ourselves. We have destroyed the power of nation that has taken our founding fathers several decades to build. For instance, the collapse of moral values, decay in physical infrastructure, lack of strategic leadership and direction at all levels, unemployment, etc have undermined our power of nation. Power of nation counts and it will always be relevant as long as nations relate in the international environment. The only way out is for Nigerians to respect themselves, be law-abiding, exercise the patience to listen to the truth and bear the burden of our corporate existence.
MA Johnson
