By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Association of Foreign Relations Professionals of Nigeria (AFRPN), on Tuesday, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint Minister of Foreign Affairs, from the pool of appoint a Foreign Relations Professionals to get the best in the sector.
Amb. Gani Lawal, President of Association of Foreign Relations Professionals of Nigeria (AFRPN), made this call while addressing a press conference in Abuja.
He argued that the country need a professional to man the ministry to take its rightful position amongst the comity of nations at the global stage.
While announcing its fifth annual lecture scheduled for Thursday 27th of July 2023, the President disclosed that the former South African President, Mr. Thabo Mbeki will be the guest lecturer.
According to him, “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.
“As you are aware, foreign policy is an extension of internal policy dictated by the vagaries of the external environment. It is crafted around what a nation wants and does not want on the basis of its national interests from the global stage. It is often said that there is no permanent friend or enemy in the international environment but permanent interest, and as national interests evolve, a friend today can become an enemy tomorrow.
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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”.
Democratic governance, he said, offers the best approach to pursue these foreign policy goals.
He added that the maxim that foreign policy is an extension of internal policy 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.
