Why Nigerian Leaders Get Red Carpet Treatment Abroad But Street Insults at Home

Photo: The Punch

My people, something dey worry me about this our country wey I wan talk today. Our First Lady, Remi Tinubu, just drop one statement wey dey make me scratch my head small. She talk say Nigerian leaders dey get respect for abroad but when dem reach house, we dey treat them like they stole our last plate of rice. Na wetin really dey happen?

The Foreign Red Carpet vs. Local Stones

Make we no lie to ourselves – when our leaders travel abroad, dem dey roll out red carpet, presidential treatment, the whole nine yards. President Tinubu go meet Biden, Macron, or any other world leader, and you go see photo op with handshakes and diplomatic smiles. But the moment he land back for Nigeria, na bashing and criticism go welcome am for Twitter and Instagram comments section.

Mrs. Tinubu talk say this thing dey happen because of 'hate-driven political narratives.' But abeg, make we pause small. Is it really hatred, or na accountability wey we dey demand?

Two Sides of One Coin

Look am from this angle – when Nigerian leaders dey abroad, dem dey represent us well well. Dem sabi speak English, dem look sharp for their agbada and suits, and dem fit hold international conversation. Foreign leaders see them as equals wey control Africa's biggest economy and most populous country. Na respect wey dem suppose get as leaders of 200 million people.

But when dem reach home, reality dey slap everybody for face. The same leader wey just shake hands with world presidents go enter country where light no dey, fuel prices don skyrocket, and people dey struggle to chop three square meals. You wan make we clap for them?

The Disconnect Na Real Problem

The real gbege no be say we no sabi respect authority. Nigerians get natural respect for elders and leaders – na our culture. But the problem na say the leadership wey we dey see abroad different from wetin we dey experience for ground level.

When Buhari was president, he go travel go summit for Dubai or London, looking presidential and discussing climate change. But back home, bandits dey kidnap school children, and we no fit travel from Abuja to Kaduna without fear. You see the disconnect?

Are We Too Harsh or Are They Too Comfortable?

Maybe we need ask ourselves – are we being too harsh on our leaders, or dem just no like the heat wey come with the kitchen? Social media don change the game completely. Before, leaders fit hide behind government house fence and mainstream media wey dem control. Now, every small thing, people go drag you for Twitter space.

But here's the thing – if you wan be leader for Nigeria, you better ready for the criticism wey go follow. Na 200 million people you dey serve, not foreign dignitaries wey only see you once in a while for photo session.

The Foreign Respect Na Business Transaction

Make we talk true – the respect wey Nigerian leaders dey get abroad na mostly because of what Nigeria represent: biggest African economy, huge population, oil resources, and strategic position for Africa. No be because dem love our leaders personally. Na diplomatic courtesy and economic interest.

So when our leaders dey feel good about foreign handshakes while ignoring the cries of people wey elect them, that one na problem. Foreign leaders go shake your hand because dem need trade deals and diplomatic relationship, but your own people go tell you the raw truth about your performance.

What Really Needs to Change?

Instead of complaining about how citizens dey 'bully' leaders, maybe we need to ask: how we fit close this gap between foreign perception and domestic reality?

• Leaders need to understand say respect na something you earn, not demand
• Good governance for home front go automatically translate to better international standing
• Social media criticism, though sometimes harsh, na form of democratic participation
• The energy wey leaders dey use to impress foreign audience, make dem channel am to solve local problems

My Final Take

Madam First Lady, with all due respect, the solution no be to ask Nigerians to reduce their expectations or criticism. Na to make the domestic leadership match the international image. When Nigerian leaders start delivering the same quality of leadership at home wey dem dey showcase abroad, the respect go follow naturally.

We no dey bully anybody – we just wan see results. The day Nigerian leaders start getting the same kind of results for home wey make foreign leaders respect them, na that day the 'bullying' go stop. Until then, make dem continue to face the music, because accountability na the price of leadership for democracy.