USA Africa Dialogue Series - Just Musing

I have been wondering about the purpose of the beautiful "political romance" between presidents Tinubu and Macron for some time. We saw (koro koro) how often Tinubu visited France, and how they hugged and smiled at each other. Like many Nigerians, I was astonished that his visits were not to the United Kingdom. 

Tinubu's rapid action against the military coup in the Republic of Benin suggests why Tinubu and Macron have been enjoying their close friendship. If you will recall, France and other powers brought pressure to bear on Tinubu, in a transactional arrangement of sorts with foreign powers, while he was the chair of ECOWAS to quell the coup in the Republic of Niger. Due to resistance from Nigerians, Tinubu and ECOWAS did not send troops to Niger, to the dismay of these foreign powers and their interests in Niger. In effect, to compensate for the failure of ECOWAS to act in Niger, Tinubu had to intervene swiftly in the Benin Republic–before consulting the Nigerian Senate and ECOWAS. Was Tinubu's action in Benin appropriate or inappropriate? 

Please let me share this brilliant analysis of a political scientist on this matter with you. In my view, it exemplifies why few political scientists are invited by Nigerian and African governments to proffer solutions to political problems. They are just "too" honest, and politicians loathe honesty because it works against their egocentric interests. That notwithstanding, I say kudos to Nigerian political scientists, and other social scientists, for your superb recommendations and solutions to Nigerian and African political, social, and economic quagmires!  

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-bZ4ZYex9U

Ike Udogu

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