With Bola Tinubu, it is the president of the leading economic power on the African continent who begins a state visit to France this Thursday, November 28 in the morning. But the challenges of this move are not only economic. What will Bola Tinubu and Emmanuel Macron be talking about today in Paris? Professor Jibrin Ibrahim taught political science at Ahmadu-Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. Today, he is an activist in Abuja at the Center for Democracy and Development. Online from the Nigerian capital, he answers questions from Christophe Boisbouvier.
RFI: Jibrin Ibrahim, what is a priority for President Bola Tinubu in this visit to Paris? Is it the political aspect or the economic aspect?
Jibrin Ibrahim : I think both are important. The political aspect is very important because of the crisis in the Sahel. Nigeria is opposed to the arrival of the military in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso and wants democracy to return. And I think, in a certain sense, that France has the same interest. So, there is a lot to discuss.
Last year, many countries in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and France wanted Nigeria's support for a military intervention in Niger after the putsch in July 2023. Why did President Bola Tinubu give up?
I think it was extremely difficult to do it, because the people of Nigeria showed that they did not want to, because there is a 1,500 kilometer long border between Niger and Nigeria and a war between the two brotherly countries would really be a problem. And the citizens of Nigeria were opposed to this intervention. President Tinubu wanted to do it, but ultimately, he realized that it was not possible if he wanted to keep the support of the people of Nigeria.
Since the beginning of this year, Nigeria has chaired ECOWAS, but this organization has lost three of its members: Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali. What is your country's strategy to avoid a definitive break with these countries?
Frankly, it's a very difficult situation. Not only because there are three countries that have left the organization, but because there is still the risk of contagion, that other countries could also leave because of fundamental problems. ECOWAS and Nigeria insist on democracy. There are presidents in West Africa who no longer want democracy. And I think that at this moment, each country is doing its calculations, which way it will lean.
And which countries could leave ECOWAS today?
We can take the case of Senegal. If President Macky Sall had succeeded in having his third term, it was likely that he would leave the organization. There is a country like Togo, where the doctrine of the ruling class is that only one family will remain master of this country. And if the organization insists on these principles of democracy, this country is ready to consider leaving the organization. And I think this is where ECOWAS and Nigeria must take a position. Are we going to stick to democratic principles and practices? In this case, ECOWAS risks losing some members. Or compromise on this issue and keep everyone in the organization? This is the strategic question that is being asked.
There is a rejection of France among part of the youth of West Africa. What about in Nigeria?
I think that France really has a problem in all of West Africa, since France is linked with this idea of neo-colonialism.
And in Nigeria, what about? Is France the object of what the English call a “French bashing”, a “France clears”?
Not as much as in the Sahel, for example. But from a political point of view, many people also think that France is too linked to this idea of control of its former colonies and that France has an interest in changing its tactics, its method, if it wants to remain a friend of the Africans of the West.
And in your eyes, is Emmanuel Macron a neo-colonialist president, like his predecessors, or is he a new man?
I think he has a language that is really close to the neo-colonialists and he would benefit from rethinking his language and the way he speaks, often a bit in a condescending way.
