#BRICS2024: Nigeria’s shameful absence

Clueless Tinubu and his Foreign Minister. They sleep while the Greatest Geopolitical Boat in town sails away!

Whichever way we throw it around, Nigeria, the self-touted Giant of Africa, absence from the meeting of the most significant geopolitical event of 2024 (#BRICS2024) is shameful. It is an embarrassment to the government of the now apparently clueless administration of President Bola Tinubu.

To any Nigerian, patriotic or not, and of whatever partisan political or ideological persuasion, to watch South Africa, Egypt, and Ethiopia leading Africa into such an important meeting as BRICS, sans their country, must be a very bitter pill to swallow a spectacle too painful to watch!

How could the lot of a country that until a few years ago was the leading light of the Black race and the uncontested leader of the African continent be left out of BRICS?

To those who were not old enough, it was Nigeria, especially under the military leaders General Murtala Mohammed and General Olusegun Obasanjo, who, through their young, handsome, and dynamic Foreign Affairs Commissioner, Colonoel Je Garba, crafted a robust foreign policy that was unabashedly progressive, anti-colonial, anti-apartheid, and solidly Pan-African.

(Colonel Joe Garba, the ultra-dynamic Foreign Minister who placed Nigeria firmly on the world’s geopolitical map)

Although geographically far from the theatre of the liberation wars in Southern Africa, it was made a part of the Frontline States, which were leading the kinetic wars against European invaders and colonizers in Africa.

Nigeria spared neither cash nor diplomatic means to lead Africa, and its position as the continent's shining light was not contested by anyone.

In Angola, Joe Garba bluntly told the Americans to pound sand when Gerald Ford dictated to Africa to support their favorite puppet, Joe Savimbi. Nigeria supported the nationalist MPLA of Agostinho Neto and got the rest of Africa to follow through.

The singular act of nationalizing British Petroleum in Nigeria (now called) by the Obasanjo government on July 30, 1979, concentrated the minds of British officials who were dragging their feet over the Zimbabwean Independence talk at the Lancaster House. General Obasanjo wrote an incendiary letter to the British Iron Lady, Margareth Thatcher, in August 1986 - https://www.nairaland.com/1551723/records-obasanjos-letter-margaret-thatcher

How could a nation that, under barely literate soldiers, was able to galvanize Africa and become its uncontested leader be reduced to being a mere spectator in the world’s most significant geopolitical event under the leadership of civilian politicians who brandish every form of university degree and certificate and whatnot?

Per his Wikipedia page, the current Nigerian Foreign Minister, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar: “(born 12 March 1967), is a Nigerian diplomat and politician who is the current Nigerian minister of foreign affairs. He served as the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany from 2017 to 2023. He was previously a member of the Nigerian House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, representing Gamawa, and he ran twice for the office of the governor of Bauchi State. Alma Mater: United States International University, Bath; University of Cambridge.” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusuf_Tuggar

What is BRICS?

Wikipedia: “BRICS is an intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Originally identified to highlight investment opportunities,[2]the grouping evolved into a geopolitical bloc, with their governments meeting annually at formal summits and coordinating multilateral policies since 2009. Bilateral relations among BRICS are conducted mainly based on non-interference, equality and mutual benefit.[3]

The founding countries of Brazil, Russia, India, and China held the first summit in Yekaterinburg in 2009, with South Africa joining the bloc a year later.[4][5] Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates joined the organization on 1 January 2024. Saudi Arabia is yet to officially join, but participates in the organization's activities as an invited nation.[6][7][2]

Combined, the BRICS members encompass about 30% of the world's land surface and 45% of the global population.[a] South Africa has the largest economy in Africa whereas Brazil, India, and China are among the world's ten largest countries by population, area, and gross domestic product (GDP) nominal and by purchasing power parity. All five initial member states are members of the G20, with a combined nominal GDP of US$28 trillion (about 27% of the gross world product), a total GDP (PPP) of around US$65 trillion (33% of global GDP, PPP), and an estimated US$5.2 trillion in combined foreign reserves (as of 2024).[1][9]

The BRICS countries are considered the foremost geopolitical rival to the G7 bloc comprising the leading advanced economies, implementing competing initiatives such as the New Development Bank, the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement, the BRICS Pay, the BRICS Joint Statistical Publication[10] and the BRICS basket reserve currency.” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRICS

We don't kid you when we say that BRICS is the biggest geopolitical event of this year—no, scrap that—this century.

From its humble beginnings, BRICS has grown to become the most critical geopolitical organization in the world. By the populations of member states, sizes of economies, military might, resources, and other yardsticks, BRICS has eclipsed the Western-led G7.

Just take a look at these figures

Country Population Size of Economy

1. China 1,419,321,278 US$35,291 trillion PPP

2. India 1,450,940,000 US$16.2 trillion PPP

3. Russia 145,440,500 US$5,5 trillion PPP

4. Brazil 212,247,828 US$4,273 trillion PPP

5. South Africa 64,220,900 US$ 1,526 trillion PPP

6. Egypt 117,099,726 US$ 1,899 trillion PPP

7. Ethiopia 133,084,331 US$ 431 billion PPP

It cannot but gall that no mention was made of Tinubu or Nigeria as the Russians released the statement: “The Russian president will meet with the following leaders on the sidelines of the first day of the 16th BRICS Summit, which begins on Tuesday in Kazan:

Chinese President Xi Jinping;

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi;

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa;

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi

“The Russian president has repeatedly stressed that Russia is open to cooperation with all friendly countries interested in it.

The summit in Kazan will be held in the "ten" format for the first time, taking into account the five new members, Andrey Bystritsky, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai International Discussion Club, told Russian media.

Why can it [the summit] be considered the most important or very important? Because it will discuss many different issues that concern the economic development of countries, interaction within, but most importantly - fundamental issues of the world order. […] We are talking about an equal system in which no one has an advantage over others…

He also highlighted the importance of discussing other critical issues, including:

Security, Energy, Climate, Humanitarian issues, and Mechanisms of payment between members.

"BRICS is a global organization in terms of its scale, number of countries, and share of the world's population in the economy. Therefore, practically all current issues for the international community as a whole also concern the BRICS countries," Andrey Bystritsky concluded.“ - Sputnik-Africa

The leaders of India and Egypt expressed these sentiments:

“ I landed in Kazan to participate in the BRICS summit. This summit is very important, and the discussions here will help make our planet a better place," the Indian prime minister wrote.” - Narendra Modi

“We see also the breakthrough that BRICS achieves in the interests of all its members regardless of any pressures, particularly in trade relations. Especially between Egypt and Russia," al-Sisi said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia's Kazan.

Egypt highly appreciates Russia's support for the country's accession to BRICS, al-Sisi said, adding that he also appreciates the dynamic development of relations with Moscow, especially the construction of a nuclear power plant and the establishment of a Russian industrial zone in the Suez Canal area.

Putin highlighted Russia is interested in developing cooperation with Egypt and that it is progressing at a steady pace.

"We pay special attention to expanding friendly ties with Egypt-Russia's long-standing and reliable partner," the Russian president emphasized.” Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi

Sputnik-Africa:

“BRICS is coming in at a time when there is a need to revitalize the identity of the global South,” Dr. Rusero told Sputnik Africa. “The sentiments that were uttered by President Vladimir Putin, they are a reflection of the Global South consensus and signal a shift towards a multipolar world, offering new opportunities for the Global South.

The academician noted a shift away from traditional power politics, characterized by military might, towards economic dominance. “Gone are the days of hard power politics,” he declared, “Right now we are talking about issues of GDP.”

He attributed Western resistance to BRICS' rise to a deep-seated sense of white supremacy. He highlighted the diverse membership of BRICS, which includes nations such as Russia, China, South Africa, and India, among others, as a direct challenge to this ideology.

There is one thing that unites Western hegemony: it’s white supremacism,” Dr. Rusero asserted. “They really believe in white supremacy to the extent that blacks are still being perceived as subhumans.”

Looking towards Africa, the expert sees immense potential for cooperation between BRICS and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). “I think BRICS will likely breathe life into the Africa free trade,” he said, noting the AfCFTA’s ability to unlock vast opportunities for the continent.

“Only BRICS is good to the potential to remember the broken limits of Africa's political, economic, social and technological advancement, which has been hampered for the past two 650 years.” - Dr. Alex Rusero, head of the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy at Africa University, Zimbabwe.

BRICS has become so important today that even the usually jaundiced Western media was forced to acknowledge the importance of BRICS 2024, which will take place in the Russian city of Kazan from October 22 -24, 2024.

“▪️ BBC: "The clear message here is that attempts to isolate Russia have failed. An important part of the Kremlin's message is the message that Russia is coping with sanctions."

▪️ CNN: "The West wants Putin isolated. The major summit he is hosting shows he is far from alone."

▪️ Daily Mail: "Putin sends West demonstrative message by gathering world leaders for BRICS summit to show sanctions are not working."

▪️ The Washington Post: “With Putin increasingly confident of a Russian victory as his forces advance in eastern Ukraine, the summit is designed to send a signal that Russia is back on the world stage as a strong player with many friends.”

▪️ Time: “Countries from Malaysia and Thailand to Nicaragua and NATO member Turkey are ready to join BRICS.”

▪️ABC News: "For Russian President Vladimir Putin, the three-day meeting also represents an opportunity to demonstrate the failure of U.S.-led efforts to isolate Russia over its actions in Ukraine." - @Slavyangrad

International Relations 101 teaches that a country’s foreign policy reflects its internal policies; perhaps one should not be surprised that a leader like Tinubu, who chose to continue to pursue the 40+ years of disastrous neoliberal economic policies which have crippled Nigeria’s economy, deindustrialized the country, rendered the currency inutile and pauperize the population will be pursuing a neocolonial foreign policy that does nothing to promote the interests of the country, but appeared geared to satisfy Tinubu’s sponsors curators in the West.

©️ Fẹ́mi Akọ́mọ‌láfẹ́

(Farmer, Writer, Published Author, and Social Commentator.)

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