The press and Nigeria's isolationist foreign policy (1993-1998)

K. O. Nworgu

Abstract
Gen. Sani Abacha took over from Chief Ernest Shonekan's interim government which was formed when Gen Ibrahim Babangida "stepped aside". On assumption of office, Abacha was faced with the imminent disintegration of the country caused by the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, widely believed to have been won by the late businessman, Chief M. K. O. Abiola. Also, threatening the administration was the activities of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) both at home and abroad. The main objective of this study was to find out how the press covered Nigeria's foreign policy within 1993-1998. The study involved content analysis, historical and case study designs. The instrument for data collection included content analysis of newspaper contents library material related to the subject matter. The sampling technique used for the study is the purposive sampling, involving all the newspaper stories, features, opinion articles on the subject matter. The population included all newspaper stories published on Abacha's regime within the period of 1993-1998. A total sampling size of 56 news stories, articles and features were selected purposively through the constructed weeks based on two days interval. Four national newspapers, namely, The Guardian, This Day, the Vanguard and the Post Express were used. From the findings of the study we concluded that press reports on the examined foreign policy did not make much impact on the outcome of these foreign policy issues since the military regime in power never wanted opposition or criticisms. Therefore, the regime went ahead to Isolate itself from main stream international politics and the press was helpless due to the fear of being gagged or proscribed as was the practice of the Abacha's administration. However, the press assumed a patriotic posture in her support for the regime's approach to Bakassi Peninsula dispute between Nigeria and Cameroun. Also the issue of peace keeping in the sub-region got the strong approval of the Nigerian press, even when a cross section of Nigerian citizens were skeptical about the regime interventionist policy in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Keywords
Nigeria; Foreign policy; Press; Isolationism.

Resumo
A imprensa e a política externa isolacionista da Nigéria (1993-1998). O general Sani Abacha assumiu o governo interino do chefe Ernest Shonekan, que foi formado quando o general Ibrahim Babangida "afastou-se". Ao assumir o cargo, Abacha enfrentou a iminente desintegração do país causada pela anulação da eleição de 12 de junho de 1993, amplamente considerada como vencida pelo falecido empresário, Chefe M. K. O. Abiola. Além disso, ameaçavam o governo as atividades da Coalizão Democrática Nacional (NADECO) tanto no país quanto no exterior. O principal objetivo deste estudo foi descobrir como a imprensa cobriu a política externa da Nigéria em 1993-1998. O estudo envolveu análise de conteúdo, desenhos históricos e estudos de caso. O instrumento de coleta de dados incluiu a análise de conteúdo do material da biblioteca de conteúdos de jornais relacionados à temática. A técnica de amostragem utilizada para o estudo é a amostragem intencional, envolvendo todas as matérias de jornal, matérias, artigos de opinião sobre o assunto. A população incluiu todas as notícias de jornais publicadas sobre o regime de Abacha no período de 1993-1998. Um tamanho total de amostra de 56 notícias, artigos e recursos foram selecionados propositadamente construídos com semanas de intervalo de dois dias. Foram utilizados quatro jornais nacionais, nomeadamente, The Guardian, This Day, Vanguard e Post Express. A partir das constatações do estudo, concluímos que a reportagem da imprensa sobre a política externa examinada não teve muito impacto sobre o resultado desta, uma vez que o regime militar no poder nunca quis oposição ou críticas. Portanto, o regime foi em frente para se isolar das principais correntes políticas internacionais e a imprensa estava desamparada devido ao medo de ser amordaçada ou proscrita como era a prática da administração de Abacha. No entanto, a imprensa assumiu uma postura patriótica em seu apoio à abordagem do regime à disputa da Península de Bakassi entre a Nigéria e Camarões. Além disso, a questão da manutenção da paz na sub-região obteve a aprovação da imprensa nigeriana, mesmo quando um grupo de cidadãos nigerianos estava céptico sobre a política intervencionista do regime em Serra Leoa e na Libéria.

Palavras-chave
Nigéria; Política estrangeira; Imprensa; Isolacionismo.

DOI
10.21438/rbgas(2021)081926

Texto completo
PDF

Referências
Abugu I. Nigeria' new diplomcy (1). The Guardian, Sept. 1997. p. 35.

Adenyi, O. Last one hundred days of Abacha: Political drama in Nigerian under one of Africa's most corrupt and brutal military dictatorship. London: The Book House, 2005.

Akinboye, S. O. From confrontation to strategic partnarship Nigeria's relations with South Africa 1960-2000. In: Ogwu, U. J. (Ed.). New horizions for Nigeria in world affairs. Lagos: NIIA, 2005.

Akinterinwa, B. A. The diplomacy of consequences within the framework of Nigeria-United Kingdom. Lagos: NIIA, 1998.

Akinterinwa, B. A. The medic in Nigeria's foreign policy: Role challenges and prospectes. In: Eze, O. C. (Ed.). Beyound 50 years of Nigeria's foreign policy: Challenge and prospects. Lagos: Nigeria Institute of Intellectual Affairs, 2010.

Akinyosoye, W. Manifacturing in Nigeria: Problems and prospects. In: Eze, O.C.; Egom, P. A. (Eds.). The econmic diplomacy of the Nigerian State. Lagos: NIIA, 2009.

Akwada, B. C. Nigeria' foreign policy: problems & prospects. Lagos: NIIA, 2009.

Alade, J. Which way Nigeria. Daily Times Newspaper, March 8, 1997.

Alli, W. O. Security challenges of governance in West Africa. In: Osita, E. F.; Anigbo, C. A.; Dokubo, C. O. (Eds.). Nigeria's security interest in Africa. Lagos: NIIA, 2010.

Alli, W. O. The challenges of a debt relief campaign for Nigeria's diplomacy. In: Ogwu, U.; Alli W. (Eds.). Nigeria's external debt. Lagos: NIIA, 2006.

Almond, G. The American people and foreign policy. 2. ed. New York: Harcourt Brace, Jovanovich, 1950.

Asobie A. Fifty years of foreign policy: An overview. In: Eze, O. C. (Eds.). Beyound 50 years of Nigerian foreign policy: Issues, challenges and prospects. Lagos: NIIA, 2010.

Biagi, S. Media impact: An introduction to mass media. 6. ed. Melmout: Wordsmith/Thomson Learning, 2003.

Bukarambe, B. Nigeria foreign policies in Africa. 1960-2010. An interpretative analysis. In: Eze, O. C. (Ed.). Beyound 50 years of Nigeria's foreing policy issues. Lagos: NIIA, 2010.

Caspary, W. R. The Mood Theory: A study of public opinion and foreign policy. American Political Science Review, v. 64, No. 2, p. 536-547, 1970.

Converse, P. E. The nature of belief systems in mass publics. In: David, E A. Ideology and discontents. New York: New York Free Press, 1964. p. 201-261.

Daily Champion, Feb. 19, 1998. p. 1.

Dokubo, C. The management and crisis of debt servicing in Nigeria. In: Ogwu, U.; Alli, W. (Eds.). Nigeria's external debt. Lagos: NIIA, 2006.

Dominick, J. R. The dynamic of mass commuincation. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2002.

Egom, R. Economic compass for Nigeria's foreign policy. In: Eze, O. C.; Egom, A. (Eds.). New scarmable for Africa. Lagos: NIIA, 2009.

Eze, O. C. NIIA and Nigeria's foreign economic policy. In: Eze, O. C.; Egom, P. A. (Eds.). Foreign policy and Nigeria's economic development. Lagos: NIIA, 2009.

Fawole, W. A. Nigeria's external relations and foreign policy under miltary rule 1966-1999. Ile-Ife: Obafemi Awolowo University Press, 2003.

Golwa, J. H. P. ECOWAS and management of security in Africa. In: Osita, C. E.; Anigbo, C. A. Reciprocity in internal relations. Lagos: NIIA, 2010.

Imobighe, T. A. Perspectives on regional security in Africa. In: Osita, E. F.; Anigbo, C. A.; Dokubo, C. O. (Eds.). Nigeria's security interest in Africa. Lagos: NIIA, 2010.

Imohe, E. E. Extra regional security challenges for Nigeria. In: Osita, C. E.; Anigbo, C. A. Reciprocity in internal relations. Lagos: NIIA, 2010.

Lent, G. Foreign policy in the midst of natural interest. Cmbridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997.

Miller, W. E. Voting and Foreign Policy. In: Rosenau, J. N. (Ed.). Domestic sources of foreign policy. New York: Free Press, 1967. p. 213-230.

Mueller, J. E. Wars presidents and public opinion. New York: John Wiley, 1973.

Musa, S. Nigeria in international peace keeping. In Eze, O. C. (Eds). Beyound 50 years of Nigerian foreign policy issues. Lagos: NIIA, 2010.

Norris, P.; Odugbemi, S. Evaluating media performance. In: Norris, P. (Ed.). Public sentinel: News media & governance reform. Washington, DC: The World Bank, 2010.

Nwoke, C. N. Foreign policy and economic development in Nigeria: Critical issues in strategic thinking. In: Eze, O. C.; Egom, P. A. (Eds.). Foreign policy and Nigeria's economic development. Lagos: The Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, 2009.

Nworgu, K. O. The press and Babaginda's Foreign Policy. Lagos: University of Nigeria, 1995. (B. A. Mass communication Poject).

Oche, O. AU/UN and the Somali crisis. In: Osita, C. C.; Anigbo, C. A.; Dokubo, C. A. (Eds). Nigeria's security. Lagos: NIIA, 2010.

Oche, O. The Obasanjor adminstraion and Diplomacy of Debt Relief. In: Ogwu, U.; Alli, W. (Eds.). Nigeria's external debt. Lagos: NIIA, 2006.

Ogunsanwo, A. Nigeria-Russia relations in a multi-polar world. In: Agbu, O. (Eds.). Nigera-Russia relations. Lagos: NIIA, 2010.

Ogwu, U. J. Nigerian and Latin America. In: Ogwu, U. J.; Olaniyan, R. O. (Eds.). Nigeria international economic relations. Lagos: NIIA, 2005.

Ojugbana, C. C. The Nigeria & Abacha. The Guardian on Sunday, Sept. 27, 1998. p. 15-16.

Ojugbana, C. C. Abacha and the rest of the World. The Guardian, March 10, 1995.

Olaniyan, R. O. Nigeria and regionalism in Africa. In: Ogwu, U. J. (Ed.). New horizions for Nigeria in world affairs. Lagos: NIIA, 2005.

Olufemi, G. Nigerian-Canada relations and the diplomacy of constructive engagement. In: Osita, C. E. (Eds.). Reciprocity in international Relations. Lagos: NIIA, 2010.

Osuntokun, J. Historical background survey of Nigeria's foreign policy. In: Ogwu U. J. (Ed.). New horisons for Nigeria in world affairs. Lagos: NIIA, 2005.

Page, B. I.; Shapiro, R. Y. The rational public: Fifty years of trends in Americans policy preference. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992.

Post Express, July 24, 1998. p. 4.

Post Express, July 28, 1998. p. 1-2.

Post Express, July, 1998.

Saliu, H. A. Citizen diplomacy and future of Nigeria’s foreign policy. In: Eze, O. C. (Ed.). Beyond 50 years of Nigeria's economic development. Lagos: NIIA, 2010a.

Saliu, H. A. Nigerian responses to US African project. In: Osita, C. E.; Anigbo, C. A. (Eds.). Nigeria's security: Reciprocity in internal relations. Lagos: NIIA, 2010b.

Sesay A.; Akonai, R. I. Where are the leaders of the Regional Grouping? The AU Regional Economic Communities and maintenance of regional security. Lagos: NIIA 2010. (The Paper 1).

Soroka, S. N. Media, public opinion & foreign policy. Press/Politics, v. 8, no. 1, p. 27-37, 2003.

Sunday Guardian, 1980. p. 10.

The Guardian, Feb. 10, 1986.

The Guardian, Jun. 9, 1988. p. 15.

The Guardian, Jun. 12, 1988. p. 7.

The Guardian, Jul. 29, 1988, p. 13.

The Guardian, Mar. 27, 1990. p. 8.

The Guardian, Mar. 29, 1990. p. 6.

The Guardian, Mar. 12, 1995, p. 6.

The Guardian, Jul. 20, 1996.

The Guardian, Feb. 10, 1997. p. 11.

The Guardian, May 7, 1997.

The Guardian, Jul. 2, 1997. p. 5.

The Guardian, Jul. 2, 1997. p. 8.

The Guardian, Jul. 2, 1997. p. 48.

The Guardian, Jul. 6, 1997. p. 13.

The Guardian, Sept. 7, 1997. p. 20.

The Guardian, Sept. 18, 1997.

The Guardian, Oct. 15, 1997. p. 8.

The Guardian, Feb. 13, 1998. p. 1-2.

The Guardian, Feb. 15, 1998. p. 11.

The Guardian, Apr. 14, 1998. p. 7.

The Guardian, Sept. 27, 1998. p. 15.

The Guardian, Oct. 1998.

The Guardian, Oct. 20, 1998. p. 15.

The Punch, Aug. 27, 1988. p. 22.

This Day, Jun. 8, 1998. p. 10.

This Day, Jun. 22, 1998. p. 10.

This Day, Oct. 1998.

This Day, Oct. 7, 1998. p. 19.

Tikhomirov, N. Russia and Africa. In: Eze, O. C.; Agbo, O. (Eds.). Nigeria-Russia relations in a multipolar world. Lagos: NIIA, 2010.

Van Belle, D. A. Media agenda-settling and donor aids. In: Norris, P. (Ed.). Public sentinel: News media & governance reform. Washington, DC: The World Bank, 2010.

Voltmer, K. The media government accountability and citizen engagement. Norris, P. (Ed.). Public sentinel: News media & governance reform. Washington, DC: The World Bank, 2010.

Wittkopf, E. R. Face of internationalism: Public opinion and America foreign policy. Durham: Duke University Press, 1990.

Wlezien, C. Dynamics of representation: The case of U.S. spending on defence. British Journal of Political Science, v. 26, p. 81-103, 1996.


 

ISSN 2359-1412