It is atypical for an American president to invite a nascent African head of state to the White House, especially less than one month after the latter’s inauguration.
Therefore, to some observers, U.S. President Barack Obama’s invitation of his Nigerian counterpart, Muhammadu Buhari, to a White House parley scheduled for July 20 would seem to be an aberration and a surprise. But an analysis of both leaders’ circumstances suggests that such a meeting is a no-brainer.
Economic and War Legacies
Buhari and Obama were elected during a period of economic turmoil and distress. When Obama was elected in 2008, the U.S. economy was in dire straits and reminiscent of the contemporary Nigerian economy. With the unemployment rate hovering around 10 percent, the U.S. economy was losing 800,000 jobs monthly. Budget deficits were spiraling, pushing the country’s debt stock to unsustainable levels.
