EXPRESSO_PRESIDENCYWatch>> By Steve Osuji THAT NUHU RIBADU’S JUNKET TO THE US

EXPRESSO_PRESIDENCYWatch>> By Steve Osuji

THAT NUHU RIBADU’S JUNKET TO THE US

Panic measure: The recent shuttle of a so-called presidential delegation to the United States signposts the very poor position of Nigeria’s presidency and the continued failure of the Nigerian state.

That trip, which obviously was a panic response to President Donald Trump’s recent inelegant but necessary threat to Nigeria, is a further proof that Nigeria is in dire straits currently. Recall that Trump recently slammed Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) status.

That Ribadu trip which is ill-conceived in the face of it, lacked clear objectives and was most shambolic in its execution. That junket (that’s what it is) made Nigeria look even more stupid than the world knew her to be.

The first telltale sign that it was an error was the size of the delegates. You don’t need such a large number of the cabinet members shuttling off to Washington for a mission that at best, ought to be a one-on-one lobby.

We expected to see Nigeria’s foreign affairs minister meeting with his counterpart, the US Secretary of State.

Of course with the Nigerian ambassador in Washington in tow.

The high ranking diplomat would have done the groundwork and set up the meetings and contacts both covert and overt.

Now, Nigeria has no heads in her missions across the world. This is a calamity initiated and sustained by President Bola Tinubu for over two years and counting. Only a failed country would run without her full diplomatic gears in this age.

Apart from having no man in Washington (a diplomatic sacrilege), hardly any member of the Tinubu cabinet has enough international clout, carriage and reckoning (name and face recognition) to fly into the world’s seat of power uninvited and get any meaningful audience without an ambassador on ground.

This again speaks to Tinubu’s puny Presidency this column has harped upon since inception. It is not by mistake that President Olusegun Obasanjo had a Bola Ige and an Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Former President Jonathan had Akinwummi Adesina, Olusegun Aganga, Oby Ezekwesili, in addition to Okonjo-Iweala.

Even military leaders like Ibrahim Babangida knew the importance of picking the best minds, thus we remember today, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, Chu Okongwu and Kalu Idika Kalu.

But since the advent of the APC era, we have not lined up our best in the federal executive nor has any star emerged in Nigeria’s horizon in the last decade.

Imagine an Atedo Peter side, an Adebayo Ogunlesi, or Pat Utomi in the Tinubu cabinet.

While Buhari had Raji Fashola and Ahmed Joda (early stage), Tinubu presidency is the worst in terms of personnel. It presents like a Tinubu and Company with his account managers and bean counters running a poor show.

Great presidents would always go out of their circles and even party affiliation to seek out the best minds in the country to serve in the cabinet/ presidency.

Sorry to say that nobody of substance or significance is in Tinubu’s cabinet across all sectors, currently.

This explains why Nuhu Ribadu, a personal aide and adviser to president would lead high ranking cabinet members like minister of justice, minister (state) for foreign affairs, the inspector general of police, chief of defence staff, (a 3-star general), and chief of defence intelligence on a state mission.

The sheer number of delegates and the inherent protocol miasma is a mark of a confused state ab initio.

Trump’s men would have laughed their heads off at the raucous Nigerian party!

But ironically, it must be noted that Nuhu Ribadu is no doubt the most enlightened and distinguished mind in the delegation. And perhaps, in the entire Tinubu cabinet today. That of course is a tragedy by itself. But that’s what it is.

The AGF, sorry to say, is just a provincial Lateef. The junior foreign affairs minister is a fashionista and still flaunts her status as an ex-beauty queen.

The IGP sits precariously in an untenable position he ought to have vacated long ago. While the army head is a baby general who’s all too happy to be in the company of the ONSA.

Ribadu on the other hand, probably sees himself as Nigeria’s version of the great Henry Kissinger or Marco Rubio who’s currently the US Secretary of State as well as acting National Security Adviser. That’s the most powerful public servant in the US. There was no chance he was going to see Ribadu.

A Debacle Of A Trip: The trip was going to be a total failure until the US freshman House member, Riley Moore, was cajoled to see the Nigerian crowd. To think that Moore had nothing to do with foreign relations or security. He is vice chairman, House Appropriations Committee. What was he doing with Nigeria’s affairs?

Moore handed the team the usual homily about the US seeing tangible steps to ensure that Christians are not subjected to violence, persecution, displacement and death simply for believing…”

In a last ditch effort, Ribadu later met with Pete Hegseth, War Secretary in the Pentagon. A terse statement from Hegseth’s office speaks volumes about the nature of the meeting.

Again Ribadu was upbraided about stopping violence against Christians in Nigeria and combating West Africa’s jihadists terrorist groups. He emphasised “the need (for Nigeria) to demonstrate commitment to take bold, urgent and enduring actions to stop violence against Christians…”

A Wasteful Jamboree: The junketing team has long returned. By all measures, it seems like an exercise in futility. And that’s what it is because Nigeria’s government is at sea as to what to do about the insecurity scourging the country.

For instance where in the world is an army general (Uba Musa) ambushed and slaughtered with ignominy and the rest of the generals continue to eat, drink, sleep and wake?

To think that the country is not in a war but embroiled in over a decade-old local terrorists and bandits.

These ragtag bush armies have so routed the military of Nigeria, the giant of Africa to the extent that there’s a total confusion today as to the way forward.

Tinubu is the third president tackling this infernal crisis. Many army chiefs have come and gone. Yet no end in sight.

Currently, the ruffians have the upper hand as they have seized the initiative, striking both soft and military targets, only for troops to chase after them after the fact.

They have infiltrated the force, they seem to get more sophisticated daily and in many battles, they have out-gunned Nigeria’s military.

The current sport of the hoodlums is to walk into schools and match away as many students as they can find, disappearing into thin air. Their last escapade involved about 300 students. In this age of precise satellite imaging and drones, how could 300 students be missing within a country.

Genocide Or No Genocide: Notwithstanding President Trump’s warning about persecutions and incipient genocide against Christians in Nigeria, (which Nigeria’s government denies), even more churches are being sacked almost everyday.

While Ribadu and his tourist team were in the US, terrorists were on the rampage making them eat every word they pronounced out there.

What Is To Be Done: Corruption is the chief enemy hampering Nigeria’s war against terror. The other factor is lack of leadership. Both the presidency and the military are bereft of ideas right now.

Each time the bad boys strike, the president sends out yet another charge to the military to go after the marauders. Then, nothing happens until the next strike. It has been a sad cycle of presidential hand-wringing and the military being reactive.

Let’s Have A Closure Please: EXPRESSO suggests that President Tinubu sets up a WAR-ROOM, appoint a commander to lead a joint military operation to end terrorism and all forms of NON-STATE arms operation in SIX MONTHS flat.

The WAR-ROOM command would have the leeway to engage international support and cooperation from the US and any other countries that can avail Nigeria support.

The Nigerian military is in a shambles currently. Between Buhari and Tinubu, some of the best minds in the military have been shunted out in nepotistic appointments.

Does Tinubu have the capacity to bite the bullet at this critical moment?

The WAR-ROOM would give weekly updates.

The command will not only embark on a 24-hour pursuit of NON-STATE armies, it will also carry out a holistic revamp of the armed forces, vastly reimagining and modernising it.

A closure of this peculiar Nigerian insecurity is possible. The president must take responsibility for current failures and act now!

>>Osuji was editor of numerous national newspapers.#

>>Feedback: steve.osuji@gmail.com

>>OSUJISTEVE/25.11.25