For the Nigerian diaspora, this decline is deeply agonizing. We have transitioned from respected ambassadors in our host countries to individuals forced to hide our heads in shame.
By Dr Hussaini Madawaki Umar
It is a well-settled axiom of international relations that domestic reality dictates foreign standing. I often reflect on the golden era of our nation, when a thriving internal landscape gave Nigeria formidable leverage on the global stage.
There was a time when the mere mention of Nigeria sent a surge of palpable enthusiasm through prospective foreign investors. They were eager to negotiate with the “Giant of Africa,” confident in the security of their capital and the seamlessly guaranteed repatriation of their profits. Indeed, our international prestige was such that non-citizens frequently attempted to pass as Nigerians just to gain trust and open commercial doors. Those of us living abroad walked tall, proud as peacocks.
That proud standing has been eroded. A devastating downward trajectory accelerated during the eight-year administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, marked by unchecked insecurity and rampant high-level corruption. Yet, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, conditions across every sector of our national life have exponentially deteriorated.
Insurgency has spread far beyond its historical bases in the North East. Banditry now ravages the North West my home region and has increasingly breached the South West, an area previously regarded as a safe haven. On the economic front, reckless policies masquerading as reform through the abrupt removal of fuel subsidies have plunged over 60% of our population into multidimensional poverty while sending the Naira into an unprecedented freefall.
Compounding this domestic agony, the highest office in the land, which ought to serve as a beacon of integrity and hope, remains shadowed by persistent controversies over credentials and past legal entanglements in the United States.
For the Nigerian diaspora, this decline is deeply agonizing. We have transitioned from respected ambassadors in our host countries to individuals forced to hide our heads in shame. We find ourselves grounded resembling a giant insect that has lost its ability to fly exhausted and immobile.
Yet, amid this darkness, a clear path forward presents itself. Former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar a seasoned statesman, highly experienced administrator, and tested patriot has stepped forward to answer the call of national duty. To rescue our nation through the democratic process, Nigeria urgently requires leadership that is experienced, unifying, and accepted across every corner of the federation. Atiku Abubakar ticks every single box.
Dr Hussaini Madawaki Umar is the former President of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Hungary Chapter.
