Presidency Says Tinubu’s Trip To Saint Lucia Is To Rekindle Ancestral Bonds

By Ayodele Oni

The Presidency has risen in defence of President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to Saint Lucia, a Caribbean nation.

It stated that the visit by the Nigerian leader paves the way for the rekindling of ancestral bonds, igniting a new era of diplomatic, cultural, and economic possibilities between our nations.

Some Nigerians, including Peter Obi, had flayed the visit especially coming at a time Nigeria is facing crisis in economy and security.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Sunday, pointed out that “Like many Caribbean nations, Saint Lucia has a significant population of African ancestry. In the mid-19th century, a wave of immigrants from present-day Nigeria arrived in Saint Lucia, bringing cultural and religious practices that persist today.

“Citizens of Saint Lucia are excited that President Tinubu has chosen to visit the island. They long to strengthen their bonds with African nations with which they share ancestral links.

“In an era of global uncertainty, deepening cooperation between the Global South, particularly between continental Africa and the Caribbean, has become imperative. Nigeria and the citizens of the Caribbean have strong people-to-people links.”

According to the statement, notable citizens of of Saint Lucia had impacted on development of Nigeria including Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian-born jurist who died on February 10, 1989, served as Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1975 to 1979.

“He first came to Nigeria in 1957, recruited as a legal draftsman by the Western Regional Government of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He became the acting Director of Public Prosecutions in 1958.

“In 1960, he was appointed Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Western Regional Ministry of Justice. In 1964, he was appointed a judge in the Lagos High Court. In 1969, the defunct South Eastern State appointed him the chief judge.

“He later became the Chief Justice of Nigeria in 1975, succeeding Sir Teslim Olawale Elias.

“Another Lucian, Neville Skeete, an architect, contributed to the design of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s corporate headquarters.

“Additionally, Sir Darnley Alexander’s son, Michael, served as a medical doctor on the frontline in the Nigerian Army during the tragic civil war.”

It added that President Tinubu’s visit aligns with Nigeria’s Four D’s foreign policy framework: Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography.

“As the Presidency stated, the visit supports the African Union’s Sixth Region agenda, which identifies the African diaspora as a key development partner.”