Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Bolaji Akinyemi, has replied to critics, defending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for proceeding with his high-profile state visit to the United Kingdom despite deadly bombings in Maiduguri.
Tinubu’s two-day trip, at the invitation of King Charles III, has been criticised among opposition voices who slammed his absence amid rising insecurity at home.
But Akinyemi insists: cancelling was never an option.
“I really believe that what we should be talking about is the significance rather than trying to limp in about whether the visit should have gone on or not. When you see the show that was put on, do you think that could have been amended at the last minute because of what happened in Maiduguri?” he asked.
“What happened in Maiduguri was a disaster for Nigeria’s image. And if for all of us, it is something we should be weeping about. But you don’t change a state visit at the last second because of something that happened.
“Maybe that’s part of our culture. We change things and then the other side is waiting. You don’t do that to Britain. And by the way, you don’t do that to the United States. Disasters happen, but state events go on.”
He also praised the royal reception, saying it sent a loud message about Nigeria’s global relevance.
“This was not a signal just to Nigerians that we are better than we think we are but it’s also a signal to the rest of the world that if Great Britain, through the royalty, could value Nigeria and show this value by what they put on, the rest of the world should also be paying attention to Nigeria because Great Britain is still Great Britain. It’s not small Britain. So, I think these are the signals that we should be holding on to,” he said.
