It has become a common practice for Nigerian politicians to travel to European countries, particularly the United Kingdom (UK), during their campaigns for election.
The question yet to be answered is how this practice is meant to positively affect the lives of Nigerians or add to Nigeria’s development.
Why do politicians waste millions of naira on political meetings abroad while Nigerian citizens are suffering from a failing economy?
Is this an indication that the UK government understands better the problem faced by Nigerians?
Politicians and abroad trips
After the 2022 party primaries, various politicians reportedly flew to different countries in Europe at different times in the name of ‘strategic meetings and negotiations’, primarily because of the 2023 elections.
Presidential candidates, some governors and party officials have met in the UK, France, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
In May 2022, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, was at Downing Street – UK’s government house – where he took some pictures and posted them on his Twitter handle.
Obi has also been scheduled to speak at the famous Chattam House in London on 16 January, 2023.
His All Progressives Congress (APC) challenger, Bola Tinubu, had on 05 December, 2023, appeared at Chatham House, where he spoke on some of his plans for significant sectors like defence, economy, education, and technology.
In the same vein, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, recently traveled to London for ‘strategic meetings’ with the British government.
According to his campaign organisation, Atiku was in the UK to discuss areas of potential future collaboration between Nigeria and Britain.
Issues of concern
One of the things to be concerned about is the fact that Tinubu had in December ignored the invitation of the Nigerian media to attend a townhall with other candidates but willingly appeared at Chatham House.
Our politicians campaigning to the British public can only be seen as neo-colonialist behaviour because the British institution has no say in the sovereign votes of the people of Nigeria.
Politicians who want to lead Nigeria should be duty-bound to the Nigerian people, not to foreign interests.
This trend needs to stop because when other countries watch the pattern of behaviour of our leaders and intending leaders, they might have no respect for Nigeria.
The solution to the problem of Nigeria is within Nigeria and among its people, hence politicians should stop going abroad in search of ‘foreign solutions’.
Photo source: Channels TV