Book on diplomacy highlights leadership challenges

A new book, The Nigerian Diplomatic Practice, authored by a renowned diplomat, Ambassador Lawrence Oladejo Oyelakin, has revealed how impatience by Nigerians has extremely made it difficult for any government to rule the country successfully. The book launch attracted both serving and retired Nigerian diplomats.

  The 801-page book, recently presented to the pubic by Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola at Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Lagos, also posed several leadership and diplomatic questions about Nigeria. According to the author, although Nigerians as a people are friendly, generally law-abiding and love freedom, they are often in a hurry and therefore have not as a nation realised the full benefit of patience. 

  Impatience, Ambassador Oyelakin stated in the book, makes it extremely difficult for any government to rule the country. Expounding more on the book, which is described as a guide to public service in Nigeria, Director-General of NIIA, Prof. 

 Bola Akinterinwa, in his review said the book raises several challenges that should be addressed. Some of the questions posed in the book, he said, include, “How do we address the difficulty in ruling Nigeria? How do we address the challenges with which government faces in ruling Nigeria? Can Nigeria be ruled very well, if there is, for instance another idea, of making Nigeria ungovernable? Is ruling synonymous with governing?”

  Akinterinwa noted, “The first Nigerian president; Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe talked about Surulere. What is the lere of the suru? When is the suru good? When is patience really good? Must patience be engaged at all times and when can we really have good benefit of patience? Can we talk about total impatience or full patience?”

  According to him, the book is an overview diplomatic practice the world over with empirical experiences of how decisions are taken in such a way that at the end of the day diplomatic practices in Nigerian can be put to good use within the context of global practices. 

  The Nigerian Diplomatic Practice, the Director-General said, is relevant literature or guide for public service in Nigeria, which will be foundation for further research for future improvements.

BUT Aregbesola, who dwelt more on domestic component of diplomacy noted that the nation’s diplomatic strength is derived mainly from home, since charity begins at home. According to him, domestic diplomacy starts with the capacity to feed the young people and protect national territorial integrity.

  Other components of domestic diplomacy, he said, include “sporting excellence, scientific and technological prowess, qualitative educational institutions and corporate individuals in all facets”.

These, Aregbesola, whose speech was read by the Commissioner for Local Government Service, Dr. Adeleke Ipaye, said, should be projected as the wealth of a nation in relations to other nations in quest to promote certain values and national interest.

  “Where is the domestic component of diplomacy if we still pay $7 million to import foods every year, including tooth picks? What diplomacy are we possibly projecting if, according to National Bureau of Statistics, 64 percent of Nigerian youths are currently unemployed? If Ghana now attracts a high percentage of Nigerian students and employers find many of our graduates unemployable?

  “At first, the whole world was shocked that 234 girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram in April last year. These were followed by outpouring of solidarity and goodwill from every corner of the globe. About a year later, nobody takes us serious again. If you compare the reaction of the world to the killing of 12 people in Paris by terrorists and the reported killing of 300 Nigerians in Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents at about the same time, what national strength are you projecting to the rest of the world?”

  The governor, who applauded the author for coming out with the book, said it was good therefore to read from the pens of those who know and practice diplomacy in order to know where the country stood and where we want it be.