G7 Summit: Nigeria, Missing in Action at the Global Stage - A Case for Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo's Transition to Global Spotlight

Guess who was late for dinner or wasn't there at All? The most powerful President in Africa, of course. Let's not change the narrative; at diplomatic settings - be it tete-a-tete, bi-lateral or multilateral engagements - the cap doesn't fit. And if the cap doesn't fit, you must not wear it. Period. I could see about five African Presidents and Heads of State in the video, hobnobbing with foreign global leaders at the G7 Summit. And these are countries whose economy cannot be said to enjoy parity or rival that of Nigeria.

Also, the insecurity scourge and instability ravaging most countries in Sub-Sahara Africa were covered at the highest level at the ongoing G7 Summit. And Nigeria was visibly absent, in spite of the fact that we are at the center of gravity in that instability benchmark.

If they can't fathom the words that are coming out of your mouth and you can't make a sense of issues on the agenda or undergoing deliberations, of what use inviting you or your country to an interactive type a conference. That is the Nigerian tragedy of the moment.

They have interacted with him before. They have welcomed him with open arms into their august body in the past. But they felt no rhythm and they heard no blues note to gravitate to. And they sense no semblance of wisdom they could relate to or exploit for the good of mankind or take home to act upon in their future dealings with a modern Nigeria.

It has nothing to do with over-bloated ego or grossly embellished integrity. It is about making a coherent, persuasive, and intelligible case for what strengthen your interests and the interests of your allies. And it is about how you orient yourself, the aura you exude, and the ideas you hold. That's how to garner leverage and sustainable global recognition.

Adding to that, you can project an image of sainthood if you like. But the blood in the land in Nigeria in recent history cannot be washed away whimsically or obscured in ridiculous explanations. The whole world is now a global village; you cannot run away from your shadow. The representatives and Ambassadors of foreign Missions in Nigeria are not gullible or readily susceptible to superficial statesmanship. They have a credible understanding of the actors behind the bloodshed in Nigeria and who are profiting from the instability.

President Buhari, based on his performance at the recent Nigerian Presidential election debates and interviews - objectively and reasonably analyzed - is far from being tagged "well-informed" or abreast of emerging domestic and global socioeconomic nuances. The disconnects are enormous and his handlers are not managing the situation professionally. To his handlers and Advisers, he is a King, answerable to no one and taking no lectures from anyone.

Moving Forward.

This is no gimmick; if you love Nigeria; if it is about Nigeria, then, it doesn't really matter who represent and project Naija image and interests before foreign leaders at the global stage. If you don't have it, you don't have it. Therefore, someone fit must act. And that's the essence of a deputy.

The Vice President is highly polished and articulate. Above all, he is scholarly, whose academic background and brevity of thoughts, in spite of everything, are impeccable. He doesn't need to, and he is not known to regurgitate incoherently from prepared speeches.

It's high time we take the bold steps and make him the face of Nigeria where Presidential presence is mandatory overseas. No one is disputing the fact that President Buhari is our President until, of course, the Presidential Election Tribunal rules otherwise. Nigeria is greater than anyone. And its interest overshadows all else.

In the past two years, we've suffered xenophobic attacks in African countries at an unimaginable scale. We have the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Diaspora Commission, and the Presidency. But no one has thought it diplomatically imperative to initiate a cease and desist order with the government of the countries involved. As at the time of the writing of this essay, Abuja is yet to invite the Ambassador of Ghana, Libya, or of South Africa for an explanation over the brutal killings and vandalism of Nigerian landed properties and businesses in those countries.

There is no doubt a huge vacuum at the global stage pleading for a strategic approach and a credible voice to occupy. And there is no one in doubt of Professor Osinbajo's intellectual endowment and grasp of foreign affairs and diplomatic niceties. Why he is not on the ground at the ongoing G7 Summit in France is a misguided executive judgment. And as usual, the country is paying for the inaction of a few whose understanding our unity is defined by the quest to own and control the rude oil wealth.

As long as they have the crude oil money to appropriate and stockpile for the use of their generations yet unborn, they won't suffer a sleepless night, agonizing over the paucity or stagnant flow of foreign investments to Nigeria. Head or tail, Nigerians lose as always. But we can't always be on the losing trajectory. And that's what makes the demand for Osinbajo's heighten portfolios and involvement in our diplomatic dealings outside of Nigeria most imperative now.