OBASANJO ADMINISTRATION AND THE RESTORATION OF NIGERIA`S INTERNATIONAL IMAGE (1999-2007) BY AYUBA ISYAKU REG NO: M.Sc /SOC-SCI/10045/2007-2008 BEING A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA. IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF M.SC POLITICALSCIENCE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF PROF. PAUL.P. IZAH AND DR HUDU AYUBA ABDULLAHI MAY 2011 1 DEDICATION This piece of work is dedicated to the following persons, my late elder sister Miss Rebecca Ladi Ayuba and to my parent, brothers and sisters. Your sacrifice is much appreciated and to those that stood behind me during my struggle. 2 DECLARATION I, Ayuba Isyaku declare that the work presented in this thesis is original. It has never been presented to any other University or Institution. Where other people’s works have been used, references have been provided. It is in this regard that I declare this work as originally mine. It is hereby presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the M.Sc Political Science. Signed…………………………………………. Date……………………………………………. 3 CERTIFICATION This thesis entitled “Obasanjo Administration and the Restoration of Nigerian International Image’’ (1999-2007) by Ayuba Isyaku meets the requirements governing the award of Master of Science in Political Science of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. ......................................... ............................................. Prof. Paul. P. Izah Date Chairman Supervisory Committee ........................................... ................................................ Dr. Hudu Ayuba Abdullahi Date Member Supervisory Committee ................................................ ................................................... Prof. A.A. Joshua Date Dean, Post Graduate School 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am most indebted to my supervisors, Prof. P. P. Izah and Dr. Hudu Ayuba Abdullahi for their intellectual direction and discipline they gave to this study. I have learned, I mean truly learned, from working with you. I must also acknowledge the reputable scholars of the Political Science Department, Prof. R.A. Dunmoye, Prof. Ejembi.A.Unobe, and to our late Prof. Sabo Bako, Dr. Abubakar Saddique Mohammed, Alhaji Saidu Adamu and Mal. Garba Aminu, Mr Paul. M. Mutfwang, Dr. Kayode. A. Omojuwa, Dr. Umar Mohammed Ka`oje, Dr. Yusuf Abdullahi Yakubu, Dr. Isah Mohammed Abbass, Dr. Mohammed Faal, Dr.Ismaila Shehu, Dr. Edgar, A.C, indeed i remain very grateful to you. Lest I forget, i will like to acknowledge distinguished scholars, who never give up the struggle amidst difficulties. Late Prof. Sabo Bako and Dr. P.A Odofin, we miss you all, but your memories remain fresh in me. I will like to seize this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to other academic staff of the department to the following persons, Mal. Bello. B. Gwarzo, Mal.Lawal Tafida, Mal. Aliyu Yahaya, Mal.Umar Tanko, Mr. Jacob Audu, and Mr. Sunday Suleiman, Mal. Dayyabu, Mr David Moveh, Mr George, Mal. Hamza, Mal Bappa, Abdul Ahmadu, Mal. Nuradeen, Mal. Zainawa and Malama Rahanatu Lawal. Also to the non academic staff of the department, Chief, Madam Secretary, Mr Sunday, Mai anguwa, Mal. Likoro and Baba Ishaya Magani, words are not enough, but i am always grateful to you all. My special thanks goes to Miss. Ladi Sandra Adamu of Department of Mass Communication, Stanislaus Njinga, Mal. Aminu Yusuf Yaroson and family, the officer in charge of the Faculty of Social Sciences ICT Centre, for his tireless effort whenever i am in need you are always there to put smile on my face. Many thanks to my colleagues of the M. Sc (Political Science) 2007-2008, for the happy and unique time we spent together. People like, Bello Gusau, Babangida, Ali Baba, Alhaji Idris El Wanga, Damagun, B.S, Suleiman Sani, Shehu Sani, Mary, Janet, Ruqqayya, Lawi, Ali Baba, 5 Rindap, Regeh, Kiden, OgaUsman, Hussaini, Kwasau, Tunde, Zasha, Shapera, Chidawa, Bonny O, Rume, Nnamdi, Mohammed.H.Mohammed, Kamar, Umar Yakubu and Aina. I am truly grateful to you all. To other postgraduate students, M. Sc 2006-2007 and 2008-2009 and my senior colleagues, the PhD candidates, thanks for the good working relation we share together. I will also recognise the following people for their tireless efforts and useful advice during my post graduate programme. They are Prof. J.O Bale and family, Prof, A.A Voh (jnr) and family, late. MR. Rasheed Lawal and family, Mrs.M.M.Kaura and family, Prof (Miss) Kofo Ajala, and Dr. D. D. Dung, Kayode Kofoworola, Col. Iliya Baba Kazah (late) and family, Amina Mohammed, MB, Terfena Yoila Amapu, Abigail, Madam Christy Ann, Susanne, Christabell, Regina Kantiyok Flora, Peter, Mary Daniel, and Dupe, Taiwo and Judith. For those whom i am unable to mention their names, they are also recognised and God bless you all. Ayuba, Isyaku 2010-12-16 6 ABSTRACT The thesis seeks to examine the extent which president Obasanjo administration has been able to restore Nigeria`s international image in the pursuit of Nigeria’s foreign policy from1999-2007. In this research thesis we employed realism as our analytical tool. To make the study more empirical, we employed secondary source of data collection. The secondary data involves the use of textbooks, journals, published articles, periodicals, magazines and newspapers, internet materials among others through the method of content analysis. A critical assessment of president Obasanjo administration showed that the administration succeeded in addressing Nigeria’s image problem. Also it has been discovered in the study that president Obasanjo used his wealth of experience to canvass for direct foreign investments into the country from the main Europeans and American nations. It was also discovered in the study that president Obasanjo performed numerous trips abroad campaigning and pleading with the European and American friendly nations over debt cancellations which of course yielded fruitful results, by changing their perception on Nigeria. It was equally discovered in the study that president Obasanjo had to undertake a democratic process which eventually launched Nigeria into democratic transition that has been sustained till the present moment. The study also discovered that president Obasanjo administration introduced and implemented policies that changed the social orientation of Nigeria and Nigerians thereby, given the country a good name. It was also discovered in the study that the elections he conducted were far from being perfect, nevertheless, it has been endured. This of course, has given credibility to that the international system as a democratic state. Apart from the above, it was discovered in the study too, that president obasanjo administration was one of the most corrupt regime in the nation`s history having failed to tackle corruption on its merits. Infact, it was alleged that all the Abacha’s loots recovered from Swiss banks were un accounted for, Besides, his anti corruption crusades put in place through the establishment of anti corruption agencies like the EFCC AND ICPC respectively were targeted at political opponents whom he has scores to settles with. Nevertheless, president Obasanjo’ attempts at restoring Nigeria’s image at the international level was met with huge success through his diplomacy. 7 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AU - African Union CHOGOM – Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting COJA – Comite’ Organisation du Jeunes Afrique CEOA – Commuate L`Economic L`Ouest Africain ECOWAS - Economic Community of West African States ECOMOG - Economic Community Military Monitoring Group EFCC-Economic and Financial Crime Commission EU-European Union FDI-Foreign Direct Investments GDP-Gross Domestic Product G8-Group of Industrialized Countries G77-Group of Developing Countries HOA-Heart of Africa ICJ-International Court of Justice ICPC-Independent Corrupt Practice and other crime Commission IMF-International Monetary Funds ING-Interim National Government MNCS-Multinational Corporations MPLA- Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola NAFDAC-National Food Drug Administration and Control NAPTIP-National Agency for Protection against Trafficking in Persons NDDC-Niger Delta Development Commission NDLEA-National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NEEDS-National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy NEPAD - New Partnership for Africa’s Development NRC- National Republican Convention OPEC-Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries OATUU-Organization of African Trade Union Unity PDP-Peoples Democratic Party SAP-Structural Adjustment Programme SCSL - Special Court of the Sierra Leone SDP-Social Democratic Party TAC-Technical Aid Corps US-United States USSR-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics UN - United Nations 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................. Page TITLE PAGE..................................................................................................................... I DEDICATION.....................................................................................................................II DECLARATION.................................................................................................................III CERTIFICATION...............................................................................................................IV ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.................................................................................................V-VI ABSTRACT.........................................................................................................................VII