As President Bola Tinubu jets off to Rome this weekend for Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration, I can’t help but wonder about the optics of this diplomatic dance. Another international trip, another photo opportunity, another chance for our president to bask in the glow of global leadership.
But what exactly do these high-profile foreign jaunts bring back home to the millions struggling to put food on their tables?
Don’t get me wrong. The papal invitation is indeed prestigious. Being personally invited by the 267th Bishop of Rome is no small feat, especially when the Pope himself reminisces about his time at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s.
There’s something almost poetic about the connection. But as with most poetry in Nigeria, it won’t feed the hungry or power our homes.
The president’s entourage reads like a who’s who of the Catholic elite – Ambassadors, Archbishops, and the ever-vocal Bishop Mathew Kukah. A stellar cast for this Vatican drama, no doubt.
But while our leaders grace St. Peter’s Square today, millions of Nigerians will be in their own squares and rectangles – homes darkened by power outages, streets flooded by neglected infrastructure, and markets inflamed by runaway inflation.
The timing of this trip is particularly interesting when juxtaposed with Tinubu’s meeting on Friday with the 46th Alaafin of Oyo. The president waxed lyrical about traditional institutions being “integral to the country’s development” and spoke of “implementing policies that directly impact people’s livelihoods.”
He boldly declared that “the peace and stability of our nation requires inclusiveness” and that “our priority is still education and medicare.”
The statistics paint a grim picture. While we send delegations abroad, our healthcare system remains on life support. Our educational institutions are shadows of their former selves. Insecurity continues to ravage communities across the nation. And the economy? Well, let’s just say the naira isn’t exactly performing miracles like those we read about in biblical times.
It’s telling that in his meeting with the Malian Ambassador, President Tinubu emphasised that “no nation can succeed alone.” True enough. But perhaps the lesson should begin at home. No government can succeed without carrying its people along. No leader can claim victory while its citizens claim hunger.
Speaking of Mali, the president’s remarks to Ambassador Cheick Oumar Coulibaly about the Alliance of Sahel States making “its position clear, but no nation can succeed alone” strikes me as diplomatically ironic. Here we are, preaching unity to others while our own house remains deeply divided by ethnic tensions, religious strife, and economic inequality.
The parade of diplomats continues with envoys from The Netherlands, Tanzania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia, and Switzerland presenting their credentials. Each meeting is a carefully choreographed dance of diplomatic pleasantries and promises of cooperation. To the Russians, we bemoan the state of Ajaokuta Steel Complex, built by their companies but still not fully operational decades later. To the Swiss, we promise a more investor-friendly environment through regulatory reforms. To the Tanzanians, we applaud their investments while our own industries struggle to stay afloat.
Don’t misunderstand me – international relations are vital. Diplomatic ties can indeed foster economic opportunities, security cooperation, and cultural exchange. But they must be pursued with purpose, not pageantry. They must yield tangible benefits for the average Nigerian, not just photo ops for the political elite.
As Nigeria continues to punch below its weight economically despite its vast human and natural resources, one must question our priorities. Are we investing in spectacle or substance? Are we building institutions or just maintaining appearances?
I remember the wise words of James Hadley Chase: “Believe this, you will believe anything.” Many Nigerians have grown weary of believing that the next international handshake will somehow translate to bread on their tables or jobs for their children.
The truth is that our development challenges won’t be solved in the Vatican, or in Moscow, or in Geneva. They will be solved in Lagos, in Kano, in Port Harcourt, in Enugu – by Nigerians working together under visionary leadership that prioritises domestic transformation over international admiration.
So, as President Tinubu witnesses the pomp and circumstance of Pope Leo XIV’s installation today, I hope he reflects on his own installation promises to Nigerians. I hope he remembers that true leadership is measured by the number of citizens whose lives are improved.
Because while papal blessings might be good for the soul, what Nigeria needs right now is leadership good for its soil – leadership that plants the seeds of genuine development, waters them with sound policies, and nurtures them with consistent implementation.
After all, in Nigeria, we have just two tribes – the rich and the poor. And while our leaders continue to travel first class around the globe, the gap between these tribes only widens.