The Presidency has moved to address what it termed ‘misguided, mischievous, and uninformed comments’ regarding President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing state visit to Saint Lucia.
In a statement on Sunday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, clarified the multifaceted objectives of the historic trip.
According to him, Saint Lucia views Mr Tinubu’s visit as a crucial step towards rekindling ancestral bonds and ushering in a new era of diplomatic, cultural, and economic collaboration between the two nations.
READ ALSO: Obi has shallow understanding of governance – Presidency
Mr Onanuga highlighted that Saint Lucia, like many Caribbean countries, has a substantial population of African descent, including descendants of 19th-century Nigerian immigrants whose cultural and religious practices persist on the island.
He underscored the excitement among Saint Lucian citizens to strengthen ties with African nations sharing ancestral links.
He noted that Saint Lucia serves as the headquarters of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and a gateway to the 15-member CARICOM bloc, which collectively boasts a GDP exceeding $130 billion –a significant figure for South-South trade discussions.
The visit he said is framed as imperative for deepening cooperation between continental Africa and the Caribbean, particularly in an era of global uncertainty.
Mr Onanuga also detailed the strong historical and people-to-people links between Nigeria and the Caribbean, citing the prominent example of Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian-born jurist who served as Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1975 to 1979.
Alexander’s extensive career in Nigeria, beginning in 1957, included roles as legal draftsman, acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Solicitor General, and a judge, before ascending to the nation’s highest judicial office.
Another Lucian, architect Neville Skeete, contributed to the design of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s headquarters, and Alexander’s son, Michael, served as a medical doctor in the Nigerian Army during the civil war.
Mr Tinubu’s visit aligns with Nigeria’s ‘Four D’s’ foreign policy framework: Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography.
He also supports the African Union’s ‘Sixth Region’ agenda, which recognizes the African diaspora as a vital development partner.
Mr Onanuga noted Nigeria’s active promotion of cultural exchange, with Afrobeats, Nollywood, and Nigerian literature already making significant cultural impacts in Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean, as evidenced by the dominance of Nigerian music at events like the Gros Islet Street Party.
Emphasising shared democratic values, he highlighted Saint Lucia’s stability as a parliamentary democracy, making it a natural ally for Nigeria’s 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.
A local commentator on the National Television Network (NTN) reportedly described President Tinubu as a ‘fighter for democracy’ during his arrival coverage, acknowledging his well-known pro-democracy record.
Regarding demography, he linked Nigeria’s projected status as the world’s third most populous country by 2050 to Mr Tinubu’s emphasis on harnessing the youthful population for economic transformation through education, industrialization, and innovation.
His planned visit to the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and the inclusion of Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (TAC) officials in his delegation underscore Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening educational partnerships and knowledge exchange.
Furthermore, the visit will include a reception hosted by Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, offering members of the Nigerian community a unique opportunity to interact with Tinubu and his delegation, thereby reinforcing bilateral ties.
READ ALSO: Jamiu Abiola: Nigeria missed economic growth by denying MKO Presidency
He stressed the historic significance of the visit, noting that Saint Lucia, since its independence in 1979, has hosted fewer than ten official state visits, with the last by an African Head of State being President Nelson Mandela in 1998.
Mr Tinubu’s 2025 visit, 27 years later, is thus hailed as a major diplomatic milestone, culminating in his address to a special joint session of Saint Lucia’s bi-cameral Parliament at the Sandals Grande Saint Lucian Conference Hall.
