A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF NIGERIA FOREIGN POLICY OF SIR ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA, MURTALA MUHAMMED AND OLUSEGUN OBASANJO

ABSTRACT

This study of comparative analysis of Nigeria’s foreign policy under Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1960-1966) and Murtala/Obasanjo (1975-1979) has exposed us to understand better the actors and factors that shape the country’s foreign policy. Generally, historians and political scientists regard the Murtala/Obasanjo regime (1975-1979) as a period that Nigeria became the “Giant of Africa” due to her confrontational foreign policy posture. Coupled with the transition programme initiated by General Murtala Mohammed and later implemented by General (Rtd.) Olusegun Obasanjo, the regime was tagged a successful one. When this is compared to the foreign policy Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, one realizes that the two different regimes pursued the same foreign policy objectives but with different approach. The both have their peculiarities in building the country’s power status within the African sub-region.