‘Nigeria, we are back’, After just a month and a half in power, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu shows his determination to put Africa’s most populous country at the forefront of the regional scene, despite immense internal challenges.
He uttered this sentence on Sunday during a summit in Bissau where he was appointed head of ECOWAS, a West African regional organization of 15 member states.
“We need (democracy) to be an example for the rest of Africa and the world”, said the Nigerian president at a time when the region is shaken by economic, political, and security crises.
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea are ruled there by military juntas following five coups since 2020, while the jihadist threat extends to the Sahel.
Bola Tinubu has floated the naira, ended fuel subsidies, and pursued regional ambition, whereas Muhammadu Buhari has been discreet and absent as the head of Nigeria.
Elected in February after a vote contested by the opposition, “the Godfather” acknowledged that these decisions, praised by business leaders and Western partners, have nevertheless led to short-term difficulties for Nigerians (increase fuel, transport, and food prices).
At 71, Mr. Tinubu is nicknamed the “Godfather” for his immense influence. His supporters praise his acute political sense, the fruit of three decades of experience, and considered an asset to the region.