ABUJA—Nigeria may not be elected
into any serious post in the African Union, which crucial annual summit to
elect its President and chairpersons for vital organs of the organisation, got
underway in Kigali, Rwanda last night.
Vanguard learned that conflicting
interests played up by some well-placed individuals in the Presidency on one
hand and others in the nation’s Foreign Affairs Ministry on the other, left
Nigeria with no serious strategy on how to win the AU Presidency or clinch two
coveted posts of Peace and Security and Political Committees, which it had
initially indicated interest. It was learned that Nigeria committed a serious
diplomatic gaffe when a top official of its Foreign Affairs Ministry
unilaterally declared to other AU member states that Nigeria was not interested
in any of the key posts without seeking clearance and confirmation from the
Presidency. Arising from the declaration by the top Nigerian diplomat, other AU
members, particularly from the Arab bloc, which had never had a stint at the AU
Presidency, immediately swung into action to fill the post and other strategic
committees of the body.
However, Buhari is reported to have
expressed disappointment when he got to know that Nigeria had inadvertently
been schemed out of the Presidency and other posts and immediately requested
for the shifting of the elections by a year, apparently to enable Nigeria put
its house in order and put up candidates. To get the President’s position
accepted by other AU members, the Presidency dispatched former Secretary to the
Government of the Federation and one-time Foreign Minister, Babagana Kingibe,
to lobby some influential African foreign ministers to acquiesce to the
request.
However, the AU has pressed ahead
with the Summit, which will culminate in the crucial election in Kigali,
thereby putting Nigeria’s interest at bay. Apparently miffed by the refusal of
the AU leaders to accede to his request to shift the summit, President Buhari
stayed away from the event but dispatched his Vice, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, to
attend instead. Vanguard learned that although a Nigerian from Kebbi State,
Salamatu Suleiman, currently heads the Peace and Security Committee of the AU,
some powerful elements in the Presidency, have been working behind the scene to
get her replaced by a former female Education Minister from Jigawa State, for
reasons yet to be made public. While the AU would prefer Suleiman to continue
in that post, given her understanding of the dynamics of the Union and
continental power, some hawks in the Presidency appear to be hell bent on
foisting the former minister on the body, a development likely to backfire. As
at last night, it was unclear whether Nigeria would put up a candidate for the
Political Committee, which is currently headed by Aisha Abdullahi. Beyond the
powerful committees, which Nigeria is likely to lose out, the AU Presidency is
being hotly contested by three nations, which see themselves as the favourites
to win the slot. The AU Presidential candidates are Botswana’s Foreign
Minister, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi; former Ugandan Vice President, Dr Specioza
Naigaga Wadira Kazibwe; and the Equatorial Guinea Foreign Minister, Agapito Mba
Mokuy.
vanguard
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