AN APPRAISAL OF NIGERIAN FOREIGN POLICY UNDER THE GOODLUCK JONATHAN ADMINISTRATION, 2011-2015.

ABSTRACT
This study appraises the foreign policy thrust of Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, 2011 – 2015. It queries the contributions and failures of the administration in the economic development of Nigeria with the instrument of foreign policy. Guided by the Systems theory, and Pluralist interdependence model, it argues that though the administration made some achievements that it left much to be desired in the economic development of the country as the image of the country remained battered with corruption. It recommended among other things that corruption should be tackled head-on as a way of assurance to the international community that Nigeria is now fit for investment, which is key to greater economic development.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Continents of the world do not exist in complete isolation from each other. The nation-states, which are the main unit of continents, have carried on some of their activities in the world environments. Emezi (1998:193) argued, “nation-states do not only come into contact with each other on their own continent but they also interact with nation-states in other continents.” This worldwide interaction takes place in what is called the international system. For this to be realized, states are the key actors in worldwide relations. Hence, no nation, no matter her size, economic endowment, population, etc. can live in isolation or be an island, contacts are bound to exist. Nations seek the help of others for survival. When one nation and others relate or be in contact, it is then regarded as foreign or external relations. Foreign relations are bound upon economic, political and socio-cultural need. The Nigerian foreign relations with rest of world dated back to the era of colonialism.

When Nigeria as indeed other African countries emerged onto the international arena, the contour of the international system was of a loose bipolar system: the Capitalist, and Socialist blocs. The two hegemonic powers were undoubtedly the United States of America (USA) and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR). The position later changed with the collapse of the USSR in 1990, ushering in the unique post-cold war era. As one would have expected, changes at the global level also, inevitably produced spillover effects on the African continent in general and Nigeria in particular.

In addition, as the wind of change raced on, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) changed into African Union (AU). These changes had tremendous implications on the foreign policy and relations. The fact still remain that external structure underpins the conduct of Nigerian foreign policy and relations, and economic development. This notwithstanding, personal whims and caprices of the formerleaders of Nigeria had greater impact. For example, according to Fawole (2003:232), General MuhammaduBuhari’s regime and foreign relations contributed to the falling out of the Nigerian economy because of his personal grip on foreign policy matters; thus, “his border closure, expulsion of illegal aliens, changes of currency, dramatic recognition of Sawahari Arab Democratic Republics, diplomatic tit-for-tat with Britain.”

The long military dictatorship in Nigeria left a bad legacy of destroying the process of routinizing foreign policy decision-making. According to Fawole (2003:235), the military introduced their own style of decision making whereby the wish of the dictator was law. This is unlike the civilian era where government to some extent accountable to the people, and to the parliament for their actions. Over the years, military rule made no allowance for such accountability, and each dictator ran the country as he deemed fit. A practical case was that of the late General SaniAbacha whose foreign relations and policies were obviously a disaster having been awash with series of diplomatic faux pax.Abacha dragged Nigeria’s respect in the international comity of nations to the mud and turned the country to a pariah state.

These issues made it understandable the major reasons why Nigeria, over the years had passed through the problem of undequal economic and social development, debt burden, internal political and religious crises, low production, corruption, low income per capita, insecurity, unemployment, high rate of infant mortality, etc.
Given this verifiable link between the personality of a leader and the health of a country’s socio-economic and political health, this study appraises the Nigerian Foreign Policy under the Goodluck Jonathan Admiistration between 2011 – 2015, with the aim of determining the achievements and failures of the administration in the pursuit of the country’s foreign policy goals as contained in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Amended.