Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, a senior chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (ADC), has criticised the Nigerian government for what he described as insensitivity and misplaced priorities, highlighting a stark contrast between overseas diplomacy and domestic security crises.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday regarding President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the United Kingdom and the people who accompanied him on the trip, he said, “In relation to the trip to England, the thing that jumps out at me is how the NSA and the defence boss were there in England, sipping tea, most likely, in Buckingham Palace or wherever, while bombs were going off in Maiduguri. I cannot reconcile that. And with the history of things and how things were before Donald Trump even started talking about safety and terrorism and Christian genocide, I cannot reconcile the insensitivity and the carelessness of this government.
“I remember they were talking about Goodluck Jonathan before they came in, how it was “Bring Back Our Girls” and all that. But look at what is happening. I’m seeing people sipping tea in England. I think that is completely disgraceful.”
Rhodes-Vivour also weighed in on the broader implications of international agreements signed during the UK visit. While he acknowledged the importance of trade and foreign investment, he cautioned against deals that may prioritise headlines over long-term development. Citing an example, he questioned the value of loans for port repairs that require importing steel from England rather than boosting domestic steel production.
He said, “In relation to deals that they signed, international business, international trade is important for every country. But every country should also have this vision to make sure that they get the better end of the deal.
“I’m not quite sure that we got the better end of the deal if we’re looking at okay, you get a loan to repair your ports and then you have to buy steel from England, when we should think about how we can energise our own steel manufacturing. And this comes with vision and leadership and a bigger vision for productivity in the country, which unfortunately is lacking.
“It’s not just about bringing money. What is the development impact on your country? And I think that’s an important factor. It should not just be about headlines. There’s a lot more that drives development in the country.”
Melissa Enoch
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