A former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bolaji Akinyemi, has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to proceed with his recent state visit to the United Kingdom despite the deadly attacks in Maiduguri, describing the move as diplomatically appropriate.
Speaking on Arise TV on Friday, Akinyemi said while the bombings in Borno State were tragic and demanded national mourning, cancelling a high-level international engagement at short notice would have sent the wrong signal globally.
“While what occurred in Maiduguri was a disaster for Nigeria’s image, it is something we must mourn. But you don’t cancel a state visit at the last second,” he said.
The elder statesman stressed that diplomatic engagements, especially with global powers such as the United Kingdom and the United States, require consistency and respect for protocol, regardless of internal challenges.
Akinyemi also commended King Charles III for what he described as a well-organised and symbolic reception, noting that the visit projected a positive image of Nigeria on the global stage.
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“I thank King Charles III for the show he put up. This was not just a signal to Nigerians that we are better than we think we are, but to the rest of the world,” he added.
President Tinubu’s visit to the UK featured a series of high-level engagements, including meetings with British leaders and participation in ceremonial events aimed at strengthening diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between both nations.
The visit, however, coincided with coordinated bomb attacks in Maiduguri that claimed lives and left dozens injured, sparking debate over whether the president should have returned home immediately.
Akinyemi’s remarks add to the growing discourse on balancing domestic crises with international diplomacy, as Nigeria continues to grapple with security challenges while maintaining its global engagements.