THE LEGISLATURE IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Very often, the foreign policy of a nation is often view restrictively
from the prism of the executive arm of the government. This conception
could be traced to historical development of international relations where
in earlier times it falls within the scope of the sovereign, usually the
king to conduct relations with other sovereigns. Much later on,
particularly from the early part of the last century, relations between
states began to leave the confines of strictly governmental agents,
particularly the executive branch to includes third parties which included
multi-lateral agencies, non-governmental organizations and there is even
private citizens involvement in the form of citizen diplomacy.
But within the nation-state, particularly in developing countries, foreign
relations are still view as mostly an executive arm of government affairs.
In most of these countries the executives only make reference to the
legislature for ratification of treaties, protocols and other agreements,
budgetary appropriation, deployment of troops, or declaration of war.
In developed democracies particularly USA that we model our own democracy,
the situation is radically different. The US Congress is fully active in
the foreign policy of any administration and the executive never toy with
the view of the Congress on the implementation of any of its foreign
policy thrusts. A typical example is the ongoing war in Iraq. Furthermore
in some cases, when antagonistic opponents are engaged in conflicts, it is
often possible for lawmakers to be acceptable as negotiators or on fact
finding missions in place of agents of the executive arms even among
belligerent nations.
The rationale behind this one believes is the fact that the lawmakers are
often more representatives of the people than those in the executives and
could be relied on to work for the interest of the people more than the
executive who may also often be constrained by electoral or tenure
considerations. It is this line of thought and the need to promote and
protect the interest of Nigeria and its peoples as well as build capacity
for its mostly new members that informs the incipient legislative activism
of Hon. Dimeji Bankole leadership of the House of Representatives in
venturing into foreign affairs to complement the efforts of the
executives. It falls within the overall strategy of ensuring that the
people are fully represented and legislation has their interest as the
corner stone. Of course the House is responsible for appropriations for
Foreign Affairs and must necessarily have oversight on this sector of the
executive.
Late last year the Speaker led a delegation of members to the House of
Commons in UK and was able to establish a working relation with the
legislative body as well as obtained pledges of assistance for capacity
building for Nigerian legislators. A further visit led to specific
commitment from DFID, the UK agency responsible for foreign assistance, to
initiate a programme of capacity building assistance for the House of
Representatives. The issue of the House also complementing the process of
forging and promoting mutually beneficial relations with other nations
also comes tops when the US State Department Assistant Secretary of State
(African Affairs) Mr. Todd Moss came to visit Hon. Bankole recently. He
underscored the role of the legislature and legislations in promoting
relations between USA and Nigeria stressing that the legislature will play
a vital role in the goal of Nigeria becoming a middle income country at
the earliest opportunity.
Of course, the House of Representatives under Bankole has also
re-established vital links with multilateral donor agencies like DFID,
USAID and NDI with the Speaker promising to provide counterpart fund for
any project coming from these foreign sources. The agencies, through their
spokesperson, Mr. Eamon Cassidy of DFID said the agencies regard the
legislature as key in ensuring transparency, accountability and good
governance. And in the area of oversight, the House under Bankole has
established a Committee for Donor Agencies to ensure that fund from
foreign sources are not misapplied or out rightly misappropriated for
projects already budgeted for.
Similarly, the role of the House in protecting the people’s interest came
to the fore in the electoral violence in Kenya, East African. The House
in a motion sponsored by Gbenga Oduwaye (PDP, Ogun), the House Committee
Chairman on Foreign Affairs, urged the Federal Government to immediately
evacuates Nigerian from the sectarian strife snowballing in the East
African country then. Indeed the urgency of the passed resolution was
underscored by Bankole who witnessed the Kenya election in official
capacity and the commencement of electoral violence. He told the House
that but for the vigilance of his security aides and rescue by the
Nigerian Air Force, the No. 4 citizens of Nigeria would have been in
grave danger. Also the House is in the process of passing a condemnatory
motion on the caricature of democracy, intimidation and political
violence going on in Zimbabwe.
Not too long ago too, it was the House of Representatives that championed
the cause of a slain Nigerian, Akpitani, who was killed while being
deported from Spain. The House under Bankole ensured that an official
apology was made by Spanish government as well as promise of compensation
to the deceased family.
Of course, this legislative foray is not meant to supplant the executive
control of foreign affairs as Bankole is fully aware that the House’s role
is to provide legislative backing for Nigerian Foreign Policy and further
link up with heads of other legislative bodies in relevant countries as a
lobby platform for legislation in favour of Nigerian interest. One such
legislation which Nigeria has not benefited from is the passed US Congress
Democracy Assistance Act meant to assist in building and sustaining
democratic institutions. There are many other such bills that could do
with impetus from Nigeria’s, (nay African) most representatives’ body, the
House of Representatives in many advance nations. Happily when Bankole led
a delegation of members on a visit to US Congress and other Congressional
agencies, a firm promise of Nigeria benefiting from the Democracy
Assistance Act was given by Republican Congressman David Price, the
chairman of the US Congress Democracy Assistance Commission and
Congressman David Drier, a member of the Commission. Finally a historic occurrence, as far as Nigeria’s foreign policy is
concern, took place during the recent visit of President Umaru Musa
Yar’Adua to France. The president, for reasons best left out of this
piece but which mostly signposted the president confidence in the
leadership of Bankole of the House invited Bankole to join him in this
purely foreign affairs state visit. And for the first time in the
legislative history of Nigeria, Bankole sat together with President
Yar’Adua on bilateral talk between France and Nigeria. Needless to say
that far reaching and mutually beneficial decisions and agreement were
reached in such areas as power, transportation, trade and Niger Delta. In
the legislative history of Nigeria this is the closest experience that
approximates the major role play by the US Congress or UK House of
Commons in Foreign Affairs. Bankole has a vision to ensure that Nigeria
interests are well protected in legislations of other significant
countries through active engagement and linkages. This is an ongoing
process and the executive under the leadership of President Yar’Adua
welcome these complementary legislative inputs to foreign policy. With
this kind of understanding one believe that the present controversy
surrounding the ratification of the Green Tree Agreement on Bakassi would
have been avoided.
BY: KAYODE ODUNARO
kayodunaro@hotmail.com
Chief Kayode Odunaro
Special Adviser (Communications) to Speaker
House of Representatives.