Nigeria deserves a UN permanent Security Council seat on merit 
Nigeria, the largest democratic Black Nation, having pursued one of the most altruistic, benevolent, and purposeful foreign policies in the modern world, therefore, eminently deserves to represent Africa on the United Nations Security Council as a permanent member.
If the world is not loudly praising and applauding Nigeria despite her glowing and ground-breaking (trail-blazing) contributions to global security and prosperity, it is not for lack of a track record of achievements. It is rather because of her hard luck of always having her many virtues written on water and its few vices carved on marble. Nigeria as a global actor, patriotic sentiments and national loyalty aside, has one of the most altruistic, benevolent and selfless foreign policies among the community of independent states of todays modern world.
As far as her foreign relations is concerned, Nigeria dares to assume the status of the biblical city stationed upon the hill, beaming her light for the benefit of other members of the global community. There is in fact a sense in which Nigeria takes better care of foreigners and international responsibilities more than its own citizens and people. It is this fact that makes Nigeria unique and peculiar among the community of States around the world.
Rather than reeling out the long list of Nigerias good deeds and glowing credentials in the international arena since becoming an independent nation-State, this essay will just underline the golden principles that are common denominators of Nigerias diplomatic practice.
A country with a good heart, Nigeria always gives her widows mite. Nigeria is the true and quintessential Santa Claus. While economically developed and technologically advanced countries like USA, Japan and Germany give development aid and assistance out of their super-abundance, Nigeria -- given her depressing social indicators, poor health indices and low human development index almost always gives sacrificially, out of love, not out of self-sufficiency. Imagine Nigeria giving soft loan of million of dollars to Ghana (perceived as a competitor) to Nigeria for African leadership) for power projects at a time when Nigerias power sector is in dire need of injection of fresh funds or raising money for victims of Hurricane Katrina when Nigeria is arguably a home to thousands of actual or threatening natural disasters. This is why Nigerias benevolence oftentimes looks absurd or blatantly stupid to the simple-minded. This kind of sacrificial giving and self-abnegation is the stuff of which Nigerias foreign relations is made.
Nigerias commitment to the political equality of States, a good concept often stated but rarely practised by most countries of the world, is legendary and unparalleled. It is particularly striking and noteworthy given Nigerias large population, natural resource base, political clout and power potential, and consequent enormous temptation to be hegemonic. The relationship of mutual respect and reciprocal regard that Nigeria has with much smaller countries like Sao Tome and Equatorial Guinea is a good example that all modern and progressive countries should emulate. Most countries in Nigerias big shoes would lord it over such micro-States that Nigeria has chosen to treat with utmost respect and hold in high esteem.
Nigeria has over the years proved to be a highly responsible international citizen. Nigerias ground-breaking contributions to peace-keeping, international relief assistance and humanitarian operations as well as technical aid despite her own pervasive poverty and widespread puts her in a class of her own. In spite of her parlous domestic circumstances and development challenges, Nigeria still manages to promptly pay dues and assessed contributions to international bodies and organizations to which it belongs. Even the worst and most obnoxious Nigerian government have upheld this shining example of international responsibility.
Unlike most big and powerful countries, Nigeria does not subscribe to the notorious beggar-thy-neighbour policy of foreign relations: that you must exploit other countries in order to develop. Nigeria has practically shown that it believes development need not be a zero sum game; that all can be winners in the development game. Nigeria is a practical advocate of unadulterated symbiosis. Through her international behaviour, Nigeria has been saying: neither a commensal not a parasite be! Rather than use her might to oppress, suppress and exploit Sao Tome and Principe or Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria rather established mutually beneficial joint development projects with the two neighbouring countries.
With the dawn of the new millennium, global solidarity, planetary patriotism, collective destiny of humanity, common heritage of mankind, and even cosmic brotherhood became the buzz words of the international community. While the world is still mouthing and preaching these noble ideals, Nigeria has been practising them in her foreign relations for the better part of her independent existence. Or how else can we explain a poor but concerned country paying the salaries of civil servants in countries as far as the Caribbean, educating and feeding the citizens of countries as distant as the Pacific Islands? How else can we make sense of the suicidal involvements and sacrificial commitments of Nigeria to the liberation wars and anti-apartheid battles that freed countries like Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa? This later tendency of leading anti-colonial struggles in distant lands at the risk of reprisal attacks from the terror machines of unrepentant colonialists earned Nigeria the tag of a Frontline State in anti-imperialist struggles despite her geographical distance from the actual theatres of war).
Moreover, Nigeria despite all odds has proved to be a law-abiding international citizen. How many countries in Nigerias position will swallow the bitter pill dished out by International Court of Justice to Nigeria over the disputed Bakassi Peninsula? The ICJ in a controversial decision awarded the territory to Cameroon despite the fact that Nigerian authorities have administered and Nigerians have inhabited the Peninsula from time immemorial. In a rare show of equanimity and gallantry (some may say cowardice or misguided pacifism), Nigeria has since the judgment withdrawn its administration and control from several villages that had been under its sovereignty for ages.
Furthermore, Nigeria, unlike most countries with its resources, influence and other power potentials, does not have any territorial ambitions and expansionist tendencies. That is why it calmly and peacefully resolves unavoidable border disputes with border disputes with countries such as Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroon. Further still, Nigeria in both preachment and practice is a great exponent of multilateralism over and above the more famous and self-serving international modes of empire-building and hegemonic project.
Need I say more about the
golden principles of Nigerias foreign policy?
It is against this backdrop of trail-blazing contributions to international cooperation that one finds it difficult to understand while Nigeria has to struggle to become a member of the Security Council of the United Nations just so that it can continue the good job it has been doing for the international community. Given Nigerias ground-breaking and selfless contributions to global security and Africas development, Nigeria should be the bride not the suitor in this wooing game.
Femi Ajayi is the Senior Special Assistant on Development Cooperation to the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
State House Abuja - Analysis/Commentary
