By Fred Chukwuelobe
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said yesterday in Owerri, Imo State, that he feels safe in Nigeria despite stories of insecurity he heard before coming.
The controversial Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born 19 June 1964) is a British politician and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2019 to 2022.
He was previously Foreign Secretary from 2016 to 2018 and the second mayor of London from 2008 to 2016. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Henley from 2001 to 2008 and for Uxbridge and South Ruislip from 2015 to 2023.
He held US citizenship too until 2016.
Johnson was part of world leaders bankrolled by Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo State on a wild goose chase and jamboree called Imo State Economic Summit 2025. Others are former United Nations Secretary General, South Korean Ban Ki-moon; Vice President Kashim Shettima; Nigeria’s Minister of Finance; CBN officials; business mogul, Aliko Dangote; tech entrepreneur, Leo Stan Ekeh; among others.
I am sure you are wondering why I called it a wild goose chase and a jamboree. Yes, it is a jamboree because leaders of civilised societies and emerging economies from where some of these people come from didn’t organise such submits with retired leaders in toe before they made their economic breakthroughs. I shall return to that later.
Let’s talk about Boris Johnson’s grandiose statement.
1. I doubt if his High Commission in Nigeria shares his optimism.
2. He is paid to come to Owerri and he has to justify why he was given a first class ticket, flown to Owerri in charted plane, lodged in a five-star hotel.
3. He was provided adequate security and no kidnapper or armed robber will dare approach his convoy let alone attempt an attack.
4. He stayed for a few days and flew back the way he came. Therefore, he wouldn’t have felt the pulse of the traumatized people living under insecurity that has cost hundreds of lives and led to losses estimated in their billions.
Leaders like Johnson who are no longer active in public officer are paid to attend such summits and serve as public speakers. They are not expected to rock the boat unless they want to lose their pay. Former US presidents, Bill Clinton; Barack Obama; former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair make a lot of money speaking at such summits and other events. That’s what Boris came to Owerri to do.
You do not expect a man who is well paid, well protected, chauffeur-driven, who stayed for 24 hours to agree that there is insecurity and that he felt afraid. But you can be sure that his High Commission in Nigeria briefed him adequately and will make sure nobody gives him the Ahmed Gulak treatment.
Back to the summit. I called it a wild goose chase and a jamboree because nothing will come out of it other than long speeches, beautifully-crafted communique, academic books to be published after, and then a huge expenditure that will be hidden from public scrutiny.
However, there are benefits of the summit:
1. Hoteliers whose facilities were fully booked.
2. Food vendors who sold foods to visitors and local residents who were in attendance.
3. Commercial vehicles operators who had a field day conveying guests to and fro.
4. Commercial sex workers and hook up ladies and their pimps who serviced visitors.
5. News men and television crews who covered the event, aired it, and made money on adverts and public relations.
6. The agency or government officials who drafted and planned the summit.
7. Airlines that flew passengers to and fro Owerri.
Losers are Imo State taxpayers whose money probably running into billions was spent on the jamboree. They will forget that such event ever took place once the euphoria clears from their eyes and Boris Johnson and the guests return to their countries unscathed. Then the people will return to their familiar surroundings and continue to guard themselves against rampaging criminals who are making life difficult for them.
Let it be known that Imo State is a subset of Nigeria. What happens to its economy is determined by what is obtained in the larger economy managed by the federal government. Investments and returns are subject to the economic policies of the country.
I turned to Meta AI to butress this. This is what I found, which is incontrovertible.
“The development of a nation’s economy is a complex process influenced by various factors. Here are some key elements that contribute to economic growth:
1. Investment in Human Capital*: Education, healthcare, and skills development create a productive workforce.
2. Infrastructure Development*: Transportation, energy, and communication systems support economic activity.
3. Innovation and Technological Advancement*: Research, development, and adoption of new technologies drive productivity and competitiveness.
4. Institutional Framework*: Effective governance, rule of law, and regulatory environment attract investment and promote business growth.
5. Trade and Globalization*: International trade and investment can stimulate economic growth and specialization.
6. Macroeconomic Stability*: Sound monetary and fiscal policies maintain economic stability and investor confidence.
These factors interact and influence one another, and their impact can vary depending on a nation’s specific context and stage of development.”
Unfortunately, these factors are glaringly lacking in our country and our economy is struggling to stablise the means of exchange. How Imo State hopes to overcome these challenges and become an economic powerhouse beggars belief.
So, while Boris Johnson may have massaged the egos of Gov. Uzodinma and Imolites who propounded the summit idea and basked in the euphoria of “world leaders” gathering in Owerri, the realities of the desired outcome are far from being achieved.
For me, it is easy to write proposals as this, plan and successfully execute it, and put money in the pockets of people who do nothing other than attend and deliver grandiose speeches that regale attendees and there it ends. The people will wake up from their slumber to realise that this is ‘job.’
