Phrank Shaibu, Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar, has called on the federal government to scrutinise its romance with France.
France has found itself in the throes of a diplomatic crisis
in Africa, particularly in West Africa, where it has, for decades, maintained a
stranglehold on its former colonies.
Shaubu in a statement issued Thursday noted that the romance
with France must be approached with vigilance and an unwavering commitment to
Nigeria’s sovereignty, dignity, and leadership in Africa.
He said: “While the motivations behind this newfound partnership remain speculative, one thing is clear: France’s interest in Nigeria is not altruistic. It is rooted in self-preservation and the desperate attempt to maintain a foothold in a region that has increasingly grown hostile to its machinations.
“For Nigeria, the stakes are high. Any alliance with France
must be scrutinized through the lens of national interest and historical
experience.”
Phrank noted that the administration of President Bola
Tinubu must tread carefully, adding that Nigeria cannot afford to become a
stepping stone for France’s resurgence in West Africa, nor can it allow itself
to be manipulated into a subservient role in a relationship historically marked
by exploitation.
He added: “The romance with France must be approached with
vigilance and an unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s sovereignty, dignity, and
leadership in Africa.
“The question, therefore, is not just where this alliance is
heading, but whether it is worth the price Nigeria may have to pay. Only time
will tell if this partnership will serve Nigeria’s interests or if it will reduce
the nation to yet another pawn in France’s relentless quest for dominance in
Africa.”
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
The recent interview of the Niger President, General TIANI, shows a man who is well informed by his own experience as a former intelligence officer in the Niger Armed Forces and other means he put in place since he became president. Niger has a good intelligence system of informations and they have mobile satellite and imagery of locations of all African military bases. Don’t forget that since Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger became a confederated, sovereign states, they have common military bases and equipment and when one of them is attacked, they will join forces together to attack the enemy in a joint operation. These three countries are armed to the teeth by Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and Turkey, and no any country can confront them without consequences. We can not undermine the accusations of the Niger President. He said at the interview that France proposed four billion CFA to President Tinubu for a transitional military base in BORNO. We now begin to understand why the government purchased twelve Alfa Jets aircrafts from France when Nigeria ought be equipped his Airforce with much sophisticated third or fourth generation fighter planes which those theee confederated countries have. Why was this purchase done immediately after the President visit? and the President also signed other agreements which are things that are normally done , but the timings was suspect. My annoyance is a black Africa President going to fight our African brothers and sisters who are fighting against imperialism, oppression and neocolonialism. If these accusations are true, I think President Tinubu will put Nigeria in the dark history of Africa. All what Niger President can not be all false but there could be some evidence of truth because he is an experienced soldier who knows quite well Northern Nigeria very well according to him, he knows almost every village which he trekked for days in 1976, he’s a soldier of tout terrain.
ReplyDelete