*Explains his visit abroad
By Chesa Chesa, St. Lucia
President Bola Tinubu has dismissed criticisms about his current visit to the Caribbean island-nation of Saint Lucia, insisting that it is in the best of Nigeria’s cultural, historical, economic and international political interests.
Some Nigerians, including opposition leader, Peter Obi, had criticized the visit as unnecessary at this time but a statement issued on Tinubu’s behalf by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday, described the criticisms as misguided, mischievous, and uninformed.
“President Tinubu’s visit aligns with Nigeria’s Four D’s foreign policy framework: Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography. The visit supports the African Union’s Sixth Region agenda, which identifies the African diaspora as a key development partner”, the statement clarified.
According to the spokesman, “Saint Lucia is a stable parliamentary democracy, making it a natural ally for Nigeria, which has enjoyed 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.
“During the live coverage of President Tinubu’s arrival and welcoming ceremonies at the Hewanorra International Airport on the National Television Network (NTN), a local commentator described President Tinubu as a ‘fighter for democracy’, citing his well-known pro-democracy record.”
It further noted that “from the perspective of the Government of Saint Lucia, the visit by the Nigerian leader paves the way for the rekindling of our ancestral bonds, igniting a new era of diplomatic, cultural, and economic possibilities between our nations.
“Like many Caribbean nations, Saint Lucia has a significant population of African ancestry. In the mid-19th century, a wave of immigrants from present-day Nigeria arrived in Saint Lucia, bringing cultural and religious practices that persist today.”
Also, Saint Lucia is the headquarters of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the gateway to the 15 CARICOM member states, which have a combined GDP of over $130 billion, a significant figure in South-South trade discourse, particularly between continental Africa and the Caribbean, it said
Besides, “Nigeria and the citizens of the Caribbean have strong people-to-people links. Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian-born jurist who died on February 10, 1989, served as Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1975 to 1979. He first came to Nigeria in 1957, recruited as a legal draftsman by the Western Regional Government of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“He became the acting Director of Public Prosecutions in 1958. In 1960, he was appointed Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Western Regional Ministry of Justice. In 1964, he was appointed a judge in the Lagos High Court. In 1969, the defunct South Eastern State appointed him the chief judge. He later became the Chief Justice of Nigeria in 1975, succeeding Sir Teslim Olawale Elias. Sir Darnley was born in Castries, the capital of this Island state, in January 1920. He held multiple honours: QC, CBE, GCON, and SAN.
“Another Lucian, Neville Skeete, an architect, contributed to the design of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s corporate headquarters.
“Additionally, Sir Darnley Alexander’s son, Michael, served as a medical doctor on the frontline in the Nigerian Army during the tragic civil war.”
Onanuga added that President Tinubu’s scheduled visit to Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in Saint Lucia “underscores our commitment to strengthening educational partnerships.
“The presence of Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (TAC) officials in the delegation further demonstrates our dedication to fostering knowledge exchange and growth. TAC provides technical assistance to African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries. This assistance is delivered through the deployment of Nigerian professionals to recipient countries to address specific needs.”
Tinubu to Obi, others: “You are misguided”
