- Safiu Kehinde
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has explained reasons behind President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Saint Lucia.
Tinubu had on Saturday arrived at Vieux Forte, Saint Lucia’s capital city, marking the first leg of his two-nation trip to the Caribbean and South America.
Coupled with his courtesy visit to the country’s Governor-General and Prime Minister Philip Pierre, the President is also billed to address a special joint session of the Senate and the House of Assembly of Saint Lucia on Monday.
However, his arrival at the Caribbean country on Saturday had come under heavy criticism by the 2023 Labour Party’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Shortly after his arrival, Obi had in a post on his X handle faulted Tinubu’s trip to Saint Lucia, accusing him of going for holidays while Nigeria is in disarray.
He slammed the President for being indifferent to the plight of Nigerians, stressing that he would have travelled to Niger State were over 700 people are allegedly missing in flood disaster that rocked the state.
Reacting to Obi’s comment, Onanuga in a statement issued on Sunday, labelled the former Anambra Governor’s remark as misguided and uniformed comment.
The Presidential spokesperson clarified the reason behind the President’s trip while also explaining the ancestral bond and history between Nigeria and Saint Lucia.
Coupled with the Caribbean nation’s profile as the headquarters of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Onanuga disclosed that the country has people-to-people links as Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian-born jurist served as Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1975 to 1979.
Onanuga further recalled other Lucians who had played significant role in Nigeria, during the pre and post independence era.
“In the wake of some Nigerians’ misguided, mischievous, and uninformed comments regarding President Bola Tinubu’s historic state visit to Saint Lucia, it is necessary to clarify the purpose of the visit.
“First, from the perspective of the Government of Saint Lucia, the visit by the Nigerian leader paves the way for the rekindling of our ancestral bonds, igniting a new era of diplomatic, cultural, and economic possibilities between our nations.
“Like many Caribbean nations, Saint Lucia has a significant population of African ancestry. In the mid-19th century, a wave of immigrants from present-day Nigeria arrived in Saint Lucia, bringing cultural and religious practices that persist today.
“Citizens of Saint Lucia are excited that President Tinubu has chosen to visit the island. They long to strengthen their bonds with African nations with which they share ancestral links.
“Saint Lucia is the headquarters of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the gateway to the 15 CARICOM member states. The CARICOM states have a combined GDP of over $130 billion, a significant figure in South-South trade discourse.
“In an era of global uncertainty, deepening cooperation between the Global South, particularly between continental Africa and the Caribbean, has become imperative.
“Nigeria and the citizens of the Caribbean have strong people-to-people links.
“Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian-born jurist who died on February 10, 1989, served as Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1975 to 1979. He first came to Nigeria in 1957, recruited as a legal draftsman by the Western Regional Government of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“He became the acting Director of Public Prosecutions in 1958. In 1960, he was appointed Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Western Regional Ministry of Justice.
“In 1964, he was appointed a judge in the Lagos High Court. In 1969, the defunct South Eastern State appointed him the chief judge.
“He later became the Chief Justice of Nigeria in 1975, succeeding Sir Teslim Olawale Elias.
“Sir Darnley was born in Castries, the capital of this Island state, in January 1920. He held multiple honours: QC, CBE, GCON, and SAN.
“Another Lucian, Neville Skeete, an architect, contributed to the design of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s corporate headquarters.
“Additionally, Sir Darnley Alexander’s son, Michael, served as a medical doctor on the frontline in the Nigerian Army during the tragic civil war.” Onanuga wrote.
The spokesperson further explained that Tinubu’s visit aligned with Nigeria’s Four D’s foreign policy framework: Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography.
“As the presidency stated, the visit supports the African Union’s Sixth Region agenda, which identifies the African diaspora as a key development partner.
“Nigeria actively fosters cultural exchange through collaboration in education, culture, and heritage preservation.
“Our cultural exports, including Afrobeats, Nollywood, and literature, are already making a significant impact on Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean, enriching our shared cultural landscape.
“The Gros Islet Street Party is arguably one of Saint Lucia’s most famous cultural events. It has been held every Friday for over 50 years.
“On the Friday before President Tinubu’s arrival, Afrobeats and Nigerian music dominated the airwaves, a testament to Nigeria’s growing soft power and cultural footprint.
“Democracy as a Shared Value: Saint Lucia is a stable parliamentary democracy, making it a natural ally for Nigeria, which has enjoyed 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.
“During the live coverage of President Tinubu’s arrival and welcoming ceremonies at the Hewanorra International Airport on the National Television Network (NTN), a local commentator described President Tinubu as a “fighter for democracy”, citing his well-known pro-democracy record.
“Demography as a Strategic Asset: Nigeria is projected to become the third most populous country in the world by 2050. President Tinubu has consistently emphasised that Nigeria’s youthful population is a driver of economic transformation via education, industrialisation, and innovation.” Onanuga explained.
He further disclosed Tinubu’s scheduled visit to Sir Arthur Lewis Community College which, according to the statement, underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening educational partnerships.
Onanuga also noted the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia’s plan to host a reception at the official residence, where members of the Nigerian community will meet with Tinubu and his delegation.
The President’s visit was also considered as rare and historic as it will mark the first time in 27 years that an African leader will visit the country after the last visit by late former South African President, Nelson Mandela, in July 1998, during the 19th CARICOM Heads of Government Summit.