Olusegun Obasanjo’s foreign policy successes did not always translate domestically. It appears the Obasanjo administration sometimes sacrificed domestic stability for improved foreign relations.
Olusegun Obasanjo is one of the most polarizing personalities in Nigeria’s history. To some, he remains the gold standard against which his successors in the Fourth Republic (1999-present) are judged and found wanting. Many others argue that his poor institutional management, domestic policy and attempts to maintain influence post-presidency have greatly damaged his image.
Yet, one area that deserves to be studied is his work on Nigeria’s foreign policy. Obasanjo’s foreign policy approach was neither novel nor original—Nigeria’s size and population demand that the country aspires to the role of a regional hegemon. This role has often come with the added responsibility of exercising significant influence in the West African region and on the continent to support pan-African independence movements and oppose undue external influence on the continent.
Every year, The Republic publishes the most ambitious writing focused on Africa, from news and analysis to long-form features.
To continue reading this article, Subscribe or Register for a Free Pass.
Already a subscriber? Log in.