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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Success of foreign policy depends on all Nigerians, says Obasanjo
PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday asked all Nigerians to be part of the vanguard for the foreign policy, saying that the new posture puts the responsibility for its success on the general conduct to all Nigerians.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he stated is only part of the executing agency.
He also spoke of efforts to bring peace to Sudan and the work of the Nigerian/Cameroun Joint Commission.
The president told members of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs who visited him at the State House Abuja: "Our foreign policy must be based on Nigerian public interest and all of us have a role to play in building the right image for Nigeria."
Emphasising that the nation has all it takes to be great, President Obasanjo added that if the citizens embrace the new posture, it would result in Nigeria commanding greater respect within the international community.
He said that with its God-given resources and dynamic people, Nigeria could have a very enviable foreign policy, just as performance of Nigerians in and outside the country would determine its place in the comity of nations.
The committee's chairman, Dr. Usman Bugaje, had earlier asked for permanent organisational structures to be put in place to improve the conduct of pilgrimages in the country.
He praised Obasanjo for his efforts in transforming Nigeria from a pariah state to one being courted by the international community, expressing the commitment of the Foreign Affairs Committee to efforts aimed at bringing lasting peace to Sudan and the work of the Nigeria-Cameroun Mixed Commission.
At another forum yesterday, President Obasanjo told the out-going Algerian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdelkader Mesdoua, that Abuja would continue to strengthen its bilateral relations with Algiers.
He said President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and himself had a unity of purpose about developing Africa and challenged the out-going envoy to be Nigeria's unofficial ambassador at his new post.
Also yesterday, Obasanjo appealed to the Sudanese Government delegation and other groups in the peace talks holding in Abuja urging them to take decisions that would ease the suffering of their people.
Speaking at a meeting in Abuja with participants in the peace talks, the president said that the world expected an agreement from the talks and that anything less would undermine global confidence in Africa's ability to internally resolve conflicts, as well as disappoint the people of Sudan.
All the Sudanese delegation to the peace talks were represented at the meeting which was also attended by the chairman of the African Union Mediation Group, Mr. Hamid Algabid.
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