A viral picture of President Tinubu leaning on a table in solitude at the G20 meeting has set tongues wagging, fuelling more speculations and doubts about Tinubu’s acceptance among his supposed peers.
The picture that dominated social media space, at least in Nigeria, has the Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he was leaning on a ballroom table looking frustrated and deserted while other world leaders were socializing and chatting away their time among each other.
The scenario created curiosity on why the president was desolated and distanced from other world leaders, irrespective of the fact that he is the president of Africa’s most populous country, “The Giant of Africa.”
One social media user posted on his/her social media account, Whiteangel1234:
“Please why is Mr President Standing alone at the G20 Summit? Why is he not being noticed or rather ignored”
Whiteangel1234
While some of the president’s die-hard supporters alleged that the picture was a photoshop work, our investigation found it to be authentic and in fact, depicted more evidence that President Tinubu did not enjoy the company of other world leaders at the summit.
The original picture was posted on X (Twitter) by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi with the message “Lovely to interact with PM @LeeHsienLoong. India and Singapore will continue to deepen our bilateral relations for the betterment of our people.”
Though Tinubu appeared in the background of the picture, he was not the focus but was on his own, totally neglected and dejected.
Hence, we decided to dig deeper and find out why the Nigerian president was forsaken at the G20 World Leaders Conference held in India.
There had been speculations that Tinubu attended the summit un-invited but the presidency had since refuted the claim saying President Tinubu was attending “on the special invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
Nigeria is not a permanent member of the G20 international forum but was one of the nine guest countries invited for this year’s summit in India.
The Presidency also confirmed that President Bola Tinubu used his participation at the G20 Leaders’ Summit to shop for more foreign direct investments (FDI) for Nigeria.
It was revealed that Nigeria has been seeking membership to the group and part of Tinubu’s purpose for travelling is “ascertaining the benefits and risks” of joining the forum.
Stigma on Nigeria and her current leadership
- The issue of legitimacy and credibility when it comes to the just concluded 2023 presidential election.
- Nigeria’s image in the global playground as a country that has nothing to offer except bad leadership and bad government policies.
- Nigeria has a population of about 120-130 million people while the majority of the citizens are living below the poverty level.
- President Tinubu’s alleged criminal record in the USA draws a weighty concern.
How First World Leaders Perceive and Weigh Nigerian Leaders
Recall US President Donald Trump’s mocking remarks after his meeting with Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari on April 30 2018. President Trump had described his April meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari as lifeless. While speaking with his three aides after the meeting at the White House, Trump said he never wanted to meet with someone as lifeless as Nigeria’s President.”
“The first meeting, with Nigeria’s ailing 75-year-old Muhammadu Buhari in April, ended with the US president telling aides he never wanted to meet someone so lifeless again, according to three people familiar with the matter.”
Trump’s outward expression was a black-and-white epitome of how the first world country leaders view Nigerian leaders of this era even though most of them would not verbalise such perception.
The general well-being and standard of living of the citizens, economy, political stability, transparency in governance, and historical and geopolitical factors are of immense significance in how world leaders may perceive Nigerian leaders. It’s important to note that these perceptions can vary among different leaders and countries, and they may change over time when Nigerian leaders start to get it right.
It is also important to prioritize these imaginary perceptions that are vital in assessing the respect a leader should command even among his counterparts from first and second-world countries.
- Regional Influence: Nigeria is often regarded as a prominent regional power in Africa due to its large population, economic potential, and military capabilities. Nigerian leaders may be seen as important counterparts in addressing regional challenges and maintaining stability in West Africa.
- Economic Potential: Nigeria is considered Africa’s largest economy and has significant natural resources, including oil. World leaders may view Nigerian leaders in terms of their economic policies and potential for investment and trade partnerships. There may be expectations for Nigerian leaders to promote economic growth, address corruption, and improve the business environment.
- Security Concerns: Nigeria faces various security challenges, including terrorism, insurgency, and ethno-religious conflicts. World leaders may have concerns about the ability of Nigerian leaders to effectively address these issues and maintain stability within the country. They may expect Nigerian leaders to collaborate with regional and international partners in combating terrorism and promoting peace.
- Democratic Governance: Nigeria has experienced periods of military rule in the past, but it has made progress toward democratic governance. World leaders may assess Nigerian leaders based on their commitment to democratic principles, respect for human rights, and the rule of law. The conduct of elections, freedom of the press, and the independence of the judiciary are factors that could shape these perceptions.
- International Engagement: Nigerian leaders’ engagement with the international community, including participation in regional and global organizations, can influence how they are perceived. Active involvement in diplomacy, peacekeeping efforts, and regional integration initiatives may be viewed positively by world leaders, as it demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to international cooperation and global issues.
It’s important to remember that these perspectives are general and can vary depending on specific circumstances, such as the leader in question, regional dynamics, and the priorities of individual world leaders and their countries.
In the case of President Tinubu, the perception of the world leaders especially from the West and other first-world countries is one that lacks average credibility.
By Obinna Ejianya (9News Nigeria – Melbourne, Australia)
