President Muhammadu Buhari entered the Aso Rock, Nigeria’s seat of power unencumbered. His election was also devoid of the rancour that characterised past elections in Nigeria. As a result of this, the problem of legitimacy did not arise at all. What a lucky president. Similarly, the President did not inherit a plethora of broken diplomatic relations with other nations that may warrant frequent visits across the globe to normalise relations.

Unfortunately for the new Nigeria leader, he inherited a jumble of problems – an economy that deviated frustratingly, defying solutions; dented external image of the country; an alarming rate of destitution; unprecedented unemployment record; worst form of savagery on the land caused by Boko Haram insurgents coupled with other forms of violence in parts of the country. Moreover, the high incidence of piracy on the waterways has compounded the already perilous security situation of the country.

These are perhaps the driving force for President Buhari’s several and frequent diplomatic shuttles to many parts of the world since he assumed office in May  2015. As earlier noted, the President’s ascension to power did not lack legitimacy that calls for globe trotting, searching for legitimacy to enable him sit on his throne without wobbling. The proximate reason( s) for his regular tours is essentially to seek help from friendly nations to assist Nigeria rehabilitate the battered economy and place it on the path of recovery, the primary concern of troubled Nigerians.

The rate at which the President has been moving out of the country has, however, elicited a torrent of critical comments from the main opposition party and other critical minds. Some have argued that these trips have yielded results. It is too early to say whether these trips have yielded the desired results or not.

This writer has no qualms about these trips but what perturbs the mind is the gradual and subtle expropriation of the functions of diplomacy, thus stifling diplomatic practice in Nigeria. Sadly, Nigerian career diplomats trained for the job, as core civil servants will not complain, they have to protect their jobs. They will remain loyal. But the damage to diplomacy in Nigeria has begun, the erosion of their functions is on and motivation of the diplomatic corps is disappearing. This is a dangerous trend.

In the President’s entourage, one can see party faithful, some of whom may not add value to the development of Nigeria. Their number could be outrageous. Many civil servants who have nothing to do with the trips are also present. Painfully, the career diplomats only serve as protocol officers when the President visits the UK, US, India, etc.

The frustration of the Nigeria career diplomats started under the military regime when some critics out of ignorance clamoured for either the closure or merging of some Nigeria missions abroad and the trimming of staff. This was the beginning of under funding of Nigeria missions abroad, the resultant effect remains jarring. This is a dangerous trend that will be hard to reverse. Take the case of the recent arrest of several Nigerians in the cities of India who were bundled into police custody in the most reckless manner, others thrown out of their homes when the payment of their house rents fell in arrears.

The panic-stricken Nigerians cried and ran to the Nigeria High Commission in India for help, but received tepid responses. This was their complaints as they phoned a Lagos-based radio station some weeks ago narrating their ordeal. Yes, we have Nigerian hardened criminals all over the place, but it is the bounden duty of our diplomats to rescue those that need help no matter the gravity of their offences. Even in murder cases, the Nigeria Consular department in the Embassy or High Commission, in accordance with diplomatic practice, has to respond quickly to the cry for help from its citizens abroad. The personnel of the Consular department must visit Nigerians arrested in police custody or in the courts during trials or in the jail to ensure they are fairly treated. But in the recent case of India, the response of the High Commission was not encouraging. One cannot blame them because their powers have long been eroded by under-funding and the usurpation of their functions by past Nigerian governments like what we are witnessing since President Buhari assumed office last year. This is a clear case of failure of diplomacy. Mr. President, please watch it. It is worth mentioning that the motivation enjoyed by Nigerian career diplomats of the 1960s through 1970s has crashed to a disturbing level. The vibrance of Nigerian diplomacy during the liberation struggles of some African nations that earned respect for the nation has equally nosedived.

Returning to our President’s regular visits to Europe, America, Middle East, etc, it is germane at this point for his handlers or advisers to return him to track. Our leader has tremendously done well by his vigorous visits looking for investors and other meaningful contacts he has made. But at this juncture, he has to pause, hand over this duty to the professionals engaged and trained by the government to do this job. This is where the President’s advisers have to work hard to advise him; but will the President budge? He will not because he does not trust anyone, especially with ‘the embarrassing exposure of larceny that has enveloped the Nigerian civil servants whom President Buhari eulogised in one of his trips abroad that they are the ones that do the job unlike politicians who talk, talk and achieve nothing. The padding of 2016 Budget figure has further slammed his door against his favourites.

The President has no choice, he is not trained to perform the job of diplomacy. He is honest and abhors stealing. But diplomacy and managing foreign affairs are different ball games. He has to accept this hard fact. No one is saying that the President should not make foreign trips at all. He has to, but the rate he is traveling is alarming and does not allow him time tackle burning issues at home.

The President should not forget in a hurry that the nation’s career diplomats performed exceedingly well during the darkest days of this country – the Nigerian Civil War. They along with other civil servants at home, the Ayidas, Asiodus, Jodas and a host of others assisted the Gowon’s regime to successfully execute the war.

The career diplomats displayed their prowess then. We still have them not with standing the frustration they are going through. It is also instructive for the president to take urgent steps to rebuild and copiously fund Nigerian missions to fully resume diplomatic practice. It also worth stressing that shopping for investors the world over is a game that requires the collaboration of the Organized Private sector and relevant government agencies including the nation’s missions stationed in the world’s cities with their well informed Economic Attache. It is a global practice and Nigeria cannot be an exception nor shy away from this. Interestingly, Nigerian Chambers of Commerce receive a deluge of Trade Delegations from Asia, Europe, America desperately looking for where to invest in various sectors of the nation’s economy.

Similarly, The Nigerian Association of Chambers of commerce, Industry, Mines and Agricultures (NACCIMAA), has taken a bold step to promote D-8 trade between Nigerian businesses and their counterparts in other D-8 member nations. This is where relevant Federal government Agencies need to form synergy with the Organized Private Sector to

shop for investors. The President cannot achieve this alone. He must however be commended for what he has done so far to attract investments. But it is better done with the collaboration of the Organized Private Sector with the active participation of Nigerian missions abroad.

For Nigeria to return to active diplomacy especially now that the economy is in a parlous state and for the country to play its leadership role in Africa satisfactorily, two critical departments of its missions abroad need to be revamped with all seriousness by the APC controlled Central Government. First, the External publicity Department of the Foreign

ministry, which is responsible for external publicity particularly now that the nation’s external image has dropped drastically. This department, according to late Professor Olajide Aluko, is responsible for the effective promotion of Nigeria’s image, the life of the people and the tradition abroad. This department has been grossly under funded over the years. There should not be further foot draggingCO; this important matter.

Second, the Economic Relations arm of the Foreign Affairs Ministry has to be given the latitude to function and achieve meaningful results for the country. This arm of the ministry has its personnel that handle highly technical matters relating to multi lateral negotiations deployed to Nigerian embassies abroad. This critical department is supposed to be staffed by economic and fmancial experts, but sadly its role in the conduct of diplomacy has been neglected by successive Nigeria administrations. It is also germane that the president’s desires to influence the flow of Foreign Direct Investment to Nigeria, can as well be handled by this department provided that the presidency involves it to carry out assignments relating to multilateral negotiations and initiating same on behalf of the Nigeria in accordance with diplomatic practice all over the world. Mr. President should note that in diplomatic practice, the personnel of the foreign missions are not made to stay idle. They should be carried along and be adequately motivated. Again, the practice of diplomacy should be allowed to thrive, it is needed for the socio-economic growth of Nigeria.

Paul Orie, Editor-In-Chief , West Coast Trader, wrote from Lagos