The Presidency on Sunday defended President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing state visit to Saint Lucia, describing it as a landmark diplomatic and cultural mission.
It said the visit is rekindling Nigeria’s ancestral and strategic ties with the Caribbean nation and the wider Caribbean Community bloc.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said, “In the wake of some Nigerians’ misguided, mischievous, and uninformed comments regarding President Bola Tinubu’s historic state visit to Saint Lucia, it is necessary to clarify the purpose of the visit.”
The statement followed reactions by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, and others.
Obi, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, said he was “struggling with my senses to understand what is happening to governance in this country.”
Obi expressed disbelief upon learning of the President’s departure to the Caribbean nation, especially coming shortly after what he described as a holiday in Lagos.
“I didn’t want to believe that anybody in the position of authority, more so the President… would contemplate a leisure trip at this time,” he added.
But the Presidency said, “First, from the perspective of the Government of Saint Lucia, the visit by the Nigerian leader paves the way for the rekindling of our ancestral bonds, igniting a new era of diplomatic, cultural, and economic possibilities between our nations.”
Onanuga said Saint Lucia, like many Caribbean nations, had deep ancestral roots connected to West Africa, especially Nigeria.
“In the mid-19th century, a wave of immigrants from present-day Nigeria arrived in Saint Lucia, bringing cultural and religious practices that persist today,” he said.
The statement added “Citizens of Saint Lucia are excited that President Tinubu has chosen to visit the island. They long to strengthen their bonds with African nations with which they share ancestral links.”
The Presidency described the visit as a major effort within the framework of South-South cooperation and Nigeria’s Four D’s foreign policy strategy — Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography.
It said, “Saint Lucia is the headquarters of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and the gateway to the 15 CARICOM member states.
“The CARICOM states have a combined GDP of over $130bn, a significant figure in South-South trade discourse.”
Citing diplomatic and historical bonds, Onanuga recalled key historical ties between Nigeria and Saint Lucia, most notably the life and career of Sir Darnley Alexander—a Saint Lucian who served as Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1975 to 1979.
“Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian-born jurist who died on February 10, 1989, served as Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1975 to 1979.
“He first came to Nigeria in 1957, recruited as a legal draftsman by the Western Regional Government of Chief Obafemi Awolowo,” it said.
The statement added that Alexander became the acting Director of Public Prosecutions in 1958, and was appointed Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Western Regional Ministry of Justice in 1960, four years later, he was appointed a judge in the Lagos High Court and, in 1969, the defunct South Eastern State appointed him the chief judge.
It said the jurist later became the Chief Justice of Nigeria in 1975, succeeding Sir Teslim Olawale Elias.
The Presidency also highlighted the contributions of other Saint Lucians, including Neville Skeete, who helped design the Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters, and Sir Darnley’s son Michael, a frontline medical officer during the Nigerian civil war.
On the cultural front, the Presidency stated that Tinubu’s visit aligned with the African Union’s Sixth Region agenda, which recognises the African diaspora as a key development partner.
“Nigeria actively fosters cultural exchange through collaboration in education, culture, and heritage preservation.
“Our cultural exports, including Afrobeats, Nollywood, and literature, are already making a significant impact on Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean,” it said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s growing cultural footprint, the statement noted, “The Gros Islet Street Party is arguably one of Saint Lucia’s most famous cultural events. It has been held every Friday for over 50 years.
“On the Friday before President Tinubu’s arrival, Afrobeats and Nigerian music dominated the airwaves, a testament to Nigeria’s growing soft power and cultural footprint.”
On democratic values, the Presidency stressed that “Saint Lucia is a stable parliamentary democracy, making it a natural ally for Nigeria, which has enjoyed 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.”
During the live coverage of Tinubu’s arrival, a Saint Lucian commentator reportedly described him as a “fighter for democracy.”
Regarding Nigeria’s growing population, the statement said, “Nigeria is projected to become the third most populous country in the world by 2050.
“President Tinubu has consistently emphasised that Nigeria’s youthful population is a driver of economic transformation via education, industrialisation, and innovation.”
As part of his itinerary, the President is scheduled to visit the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College to deepen educational partnerships.
The delegation also includes members of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, who are deployed to ACP countries to provide professional services.
“This assistance is delivered through the deployment of Nigerian professionals to recipient countries to address specific needs,” Onanuga explained.
The statement added that Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister would host a reception for the Nigerian community, where they will meet with the President and his delegation.
“This event is a unique opportunity for the Nigerian community to interact with their President and discuss matters of mutual interest, further strengthening the ties between the two nations,” the Presidency said.
Saint Lucia, which gained independence in 1979, has hosted fewer than 10 official state visits.
The last visit by an African leader was by President Nelson Mandela in 1998 during the 19th CARICOM Heads of Government Summit.
“Therefore, President Tinubu’s 2025 visit, 27 years later, is a historic diplomatic milestone,” the statement said.
It added that “President Tinubu will address a special joint session of Saint Lucia’s bi-cameral Parliament at the Sandals Grande Saint Lucian Conference Hall, named after former US President Bill Clinton,” Onanuga revealed.
The Presidency concluded its statement by reiterating the significance of the visit, urging Nigerians to see it for what it was.
“President Tinubu’s visit is not a vacation, as misrepresented by critics, but a diplomatic and cultural outreach that advances Nigeria’s interests and deepens its global partnerships,” it read.
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