G8 SUMMIT AND OPPORTUNISM BY HANGERS-ON PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN: TIME FOR NIGERIANS TO LAY LESS EMPHASIS ON OPPORTUNISM IN DEMOCRATIC DEBATE

MY REACTION IS THAT A LARGE PRESIDENTIAL ENTOURAGE FROM NIGERIA TO CANADA TO OBSERVE G8 SUMMIT IS DISTRACTING AND NOT THE EFFECTIVE MEANS OF ADVANCING NIGERIA'S INTEREST. WHAT IS THE OFFICIAL EXPLANATION?

However, there are two sides to this issue: “Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and the stream of criticisms of his litany of Nigerian co-observers” embedded in the president's delegation. The official reaction to the criticism is fuzzy. Niboro should offer concrete explanation and this people will be helping the president to observe or to run around Canada to get development moving in Nigeria. The judgment is what is possible and what is not possible since G8 is a discussion among the G8 with homework concluded even before coming to Canada. Still, the other side, which is the benefit of this obviously astonishing number of observers, is that they will get to Canada and see how commitment to transform has changed the central Ontario lakes where the 2010 Summit is to hold in Muskoka. Is time my fellow Nigerians follow democratic debates taking place around the world, including in Ghana with less emphasis on opportunism.

I have read some angry reactions to criticisms on Sahara Reporters website by Nigerians already in Canada suggesting that Nigerians overseas are facing economic hardship. This may be why those in overseas can't travel quite often or that they have no access to public finance in Nigeria. That is a cheap logic. Of course, economic hardship is everywhere, but there is a decency in developed countries that is far more valuable than having everything you need and living in an undeveloped country. The values and principles are at the core. The reason many people got themselves involved in this trip is to get into a developed country even if for a second. This may be the first overseas trip for some of the observers. That is understandable.

I think that 32 people going to G8 Summit from Nigeria is ill-advised. G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy in July 2009, the heads of state and government leaders of the G8 countries met and debated with over 30 delegations. It was just a total of 40 participants ranging from the G8 member countries themselves to the countries in the G5 group, the countries in the MEF (the Major Economies Forum), the member countries of the African Union, the international organizations and a host of other countries invited by the G8 Italian Presidency.

The Nigerian Embassy in Canada can do more than people just traveling to know Canada. If they want to travel on their own, let them do so not with the president. Let the hangers not confuse President Goodluck Jonathan and take his eyes off the ball. That will be embarrassing.

Goodluck Diigbo, MOSOP President / Spokesman