Diplomatic Disgrace
OpenLife Nigeria reports that what seems a major let down on Nigeria in the international arena has provoked the call for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dissolve his cabinet immediately and appoint competent hands, devoid of political affinity.
According to the story, Qatari authorities have turned down President Bola Tinubu’s request to visit the nation and hold a business and investment forum.
The Qatari government in a letter to the ministry of foreign affairs on Thursday disclosed that it would not be able to welcome Mr Tinubu and hold the proposed forum on March 2 and 3 due to the lack of a legally binding agreement between Qatar and Nigeria for the promotion of investment.
It also noted that its ministry of commerce had other commitments on the days Mr Tinubu desired to visit.
“The Embassy has the honour to inform that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar apologises that it will not be able to hold a Business and Investment Forum as proposed by Nigerian side” because “there is no any agreement signed between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Investment Promotion and Protection,” the letter sent to the foreign affairs ministry on February 22 stated.
The Gulf nation further stressed that its commerce and industry minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim al-Thani “will be carrying out official missions outside the country during the upcoming visit period” which makes him unavailable to meet with the Nigerian leader.
It added that its officials would be too busy because Qatar was hosting its own “web summit” the same time Mr Tinubu planned to visit.
“The State of Qatar will be hosting a web summit during the suggested period and the state’s authorities will be preoccupied with this event,” the letter indicated.
The Qatari government’s failure to reschedule the business forum to a more convenient period, perhaps, suggested its unwillingness to forge any economic alliance with Nigeria.
Last year, the United Arab Emirates authorities faulted an announcement that a visa ban on Nigerians had been lifted after Mr Tinubu visited the UAE leader, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Reacting to this development, a House of Representatives member on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC from Ondo State told OpenLife Saturday afternoon that what has just emerged is as a result of poor handling of job specifications by presidential aides.
He maintained that most of the aides and ministers are not qualified to be in those positions because they have nothing to offer the President.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the coming governorship election in Ondo, where his aspirant needs the President’s supports, the Abuja law maker said:
“This is what we have been saying. Aides to the President must be able to do their research very well to be able to offer quality advice to any proposal.
If that had been done, this international disgrace would have been avoided. Imagine Qatar turning down Nigeria’s President’s visit?
“It is a disgrace because the right preliminary investigations were not done.
“Tinubu should sack those under performing ministers and aides. Whoever is responsible for this national let down should be sacked,” he said.
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