Expectations From Buhari’s US Visit

The four-day working visit of Nigeria’s
President Muhammadu Buhari early
this week, to the United States of America (USA), the world’s biggest economy, has continued to generate  comments in both the local and international media. More than that, there are high expectations from the visit, particularly, after the Nigerian leader’s meeting with US President Barack Obama  and Vice President Joe Biden  in separate fora in Washington, D.C.
At both events, the US political leadership expressed confidence and optimism in Buhari’s ability to administer Africa’s most populous nation, fight corruption, battle the Boko Haram insurgency, and indeed, rejig the Nigerian economy, based on his pedigree, antecedents, and  self discipline.
Those kind sentiments and rousing reception of the American leaders  are indeed indicative of a renewed  and  mutually  beneficial  bi-lateral ties, that should address  a wide range of issues  for long begging for attention and multi-national  support.
In his meeting with President  Obama, the Nigerian leader made some requests, key  among which were: urgent US support for timely remittance  of $150 billion of stolen public funds  in financial institutions in America and elsewhere, more proactive involvement in the war against insurgency, and meaningful partnership  in efforts to diversify the Nigerian economy,  among others. While acknowledging US contributions towards a peaceful general elections, the Nigerian Leader solicited the support of his host in the fight against corruption.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US, Prof Ade Adefuye is optimistic that the talks would, indeed yield positive result, especially in the area of economic reforms, with special bias for manufacturing and agriculture, among others. He is also hopeful that the war against corruption would enjoy special boost, with US support in tracking stolen public funds.
Nigerians expect no less, if the hype over the historic visit is to make real meaning. This expectation stems from Nigeria’s not-too-soothing experience with the US government under the Obama Presidency.
With the emergence of President Obama as political head of the world’s Super Power, the African continent was hopeful that the product of the Kenyan Scholarship Student, and one of their own, would make Africa one of the centre-pieces of his foreign policy.
That did not happen. For Nigeria, the acclaimed Giant of Africa, very little or nothing could be counted as gains from the Obama Presidency. That was in spite of the fact that Nigeria was one of US fading partners, before the world power halted consumption of Nigerian crude, contributing in part, to the country’s economic woes.
Also, since the Boko Haram insurgency began about six years ago, the Obama Presidency has contributed far below global expectation, and in some stances,  even obstructed Nigeria’s access to hi-tech military equipment and needs required to battle the terrorists.
This is why many Nigerians are hoping that the renewed friendship, which the Buhari Presidency has rekindled, must be fruitful and rise above mere political rhetoric and lip-service. It must indeed, be productive and mutually beneficial to both countries.
Nigerians expect their President to return  home with concrete assurance and sealed agreements with his American hosts, that would result in greater  foreign  investments, more spirited war against insurgency, a stronger economy, stronger democratic structures, and indeed, lasting friendship  and bilateral ties between both nations.
Anything less than this, is indeed, unacceptable. This is why President Buhari must utilize, to the fullest, the opportunity which his official visit presents, to address pressing national concerns.