Jeffrey Hawkins will next month bow out of Nigeria as the United States (U.S.) Consul-General. Hawkins, who was appointed in 2012, is on the way to the Central African Republic (CAR), subject to U.S. Senate’s approval. In this interview with OLUKOREDE YISHAU, he speaks on the leadership crisis in the National Assembly, Boko Haram, possible visit of President Barack Obama to Nigeria, visa administration and the Nigerian political class.
Are you happy you are escaping from Nigeria?
(Laughs) I am not escaping from Nigeria. I have been kicking and screaming from Nigeria. I am not happy I am leaving. I am certainly happy I have a new assignment, a new challenge to accomplish. I am happy I have a new challenge. Did I want to leave here or was I looking forward to a departure? Absolutely not! This has been a wonderful place for me. In my 25-year career, it has been without doubt my favourite place to have served and the most rewarding professionally.
What were the challenges you faced?
Essentially, the challenges are multiple and they are challenges any diplomat anywhere will face. I think the most important questions are the opportunities, the advantages we have. Most important, there has been a congruence of Nigerian and American interest. On some levels that I have not been able to put my fingers on, there are some things Nigerians and Americans have in common and they get along well. Nigerians that move to the United States tend to do very well and Americans here have challenges and issues… but diplomats who have served here tend to have a good memory. So, there were challenges but there were a lot going on that made this work very rewarding.
President Buhari is visiting the U.S. Is there any plan for President Obama to come to Nigeria?
I don’t think there is anything on the table right now. I am going to guess that that is something they may talk about when President Buhari is in Washington. I will hope that the President will come here because it is such an important country and it is such an important partner for us. It will make good sense.
What do you make of the happenings at the National Assembly?
I think it is early days yet. Obviously, the National Assembly is a sovereign legislative body, the Senate and the House of Representatives have the right to make their own choices about who they want for their own leadership…Even though the House of Representatives and the Senate are controlled by the President’s party, it does not mean they must do everything the President wants.
The U.S. has always raised the concern about the need to fight insurgency with utmost respect for human rights. How possible is this?
It is a hard thing, but it is a balance the United States is struggling with. We’ve been involved in conflict resolution in Afghanistan and I think what is important to keep in mind is that you can’t win war against insurgency if you do not bring the people along with you, particularly in a place like Nigeria where the military is fighting to protect the civilian population. So, if there is a sense that the human rights have not been respected by the security forces, that gets in the way of proper success in the fight against insurgency and this will be morally wrong and legally wrong. So, it is something that you have to look at very carefully and I think President Buhari has responded well to the concerns of international NGOs. ..That is the proper approach.
What do you make of Nigerian politicians?
Like Nigeria itself, Nigerian political class is very diverse and I have met Nigerian politicians that I have deeply admired and impressed with their concern for the people and their desire to do things with creative ideas. I have also met Nigerian politicians who were less impressive. .. I do hope that the Nigerian people tend to lavish their attention and votes on the former category, not the latter.
Do you think political parties in Nigeria are driven by principles or just power?
I think the party system should have more emphasis on ideologies, policies and approaches to solving problems and less emphasis on individuals. This idea of switching parties back and forth because you couldn’t get one job you want, I don’t think that is in Nigeria’s interest and flies in the face of democracy tenets.
How much benefit has Nigeria got from AGOA?
Not very much so far. Obviously, the oil sector has a lot of benefits from it. United States has worked very hard in co-ordination with Nigeria to encourage Nigeria to diversify its export to the United States and that will very much be to the interest of Nigeria and I hope the Buhari administration will look into this. The whole idea of that Act is to improve trade relations…If Nigeria is not benefitting from that, that is too bad.
During the collation of the results of the last presidential election, the ambassador visited the collation centre and some people have described this as interference in our domestic affair. What is your take on this?
The people who feel that way obviously do not understand the role of international observers. The ambassador was accredited as an observer like the rest of us and we have the right and really the responsibility to ensure the electoral process across the board is being conducted in a transparent way. Part of that is being at the polling centres when the people are voting and being at the collation centre after the election has taken place. It is a huge part of the process and it is something that international and domestic observers should be able to observe because it is part of the democratic system.
Currently, Nigerians can get UK visa valid for 10 years. When will that happen for American visa?
Generally speaking, the United States approach to visa is on reciprocal basis. So, whatever the other country does, we do. Currently, Nigeria gives only two years visa to United States citizens travelling to Nigeria. So, we are more or less obliged to do the same. Do we want Nigeria to expand that? That will be something we will quickly look at, because obviously, a longer visa period means less visa interviews for our staff and less work. We will love that, but our people need to benefit from same.
How much help can Nigeria get from the U.S. to recover stolen funds?
Working through legal process, through law enforcement agencies and Nigeria will get as much help as other countries. Obviously, the wider goal of fighting corruption is one that the United States shares with many of its partners and will love to work with Nigeria.
Let’s talk about Kashamu Buruji. Why does the U.S. want him so badly?
I am not going to discuss an ongoing legal matter.
Lessons learnt from your stay in Nigeria…
The lessons learnt are really basic and they are that Nigeria is absolutely essential actor on the African stage and on the wider global stage and it is quite important for the United States to be engaged with Nigeria. We have been working and cooperating with Nigeria because this is a country with an important present and a much more important future. We need to be here and we are here.
What changed from the Nigeria you have lived in for three years and the Nigeria you heard of before you came here in 2012?
I heard a lot from people, particularly in the policy world, about the investment opportunities here. There were also a lot about 419 and corruption and the rest. Also there was a growing awareness about Boko Haram as I was coming here in 2012 and so concerns about security. Those are facets of a bigger reality. It doesn’t define our relationship and it doesn’t define Nigeria.
Were there things you planned to do and couldn’t do in three years?
One of the things is not travelling more in the North. I took a one-day trip to Kaduna from Abuja. I would have loved to see the horsemen in Kano and go up to Sokoto.
What will you miss about Nigeria?
The people obviously and the work, the work has been really wonderful.
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