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Phrank Shaibu, ex-VP Atiku Abubakar's aide, has cautioned the Tinubu administration to exercise caution in its dealings with France Shaibu's warning comes as France's influence in the region wanes, with countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Niger rejecting French dominance He advised that Nigeria must prioritise its sovereignty and regional leadership aspirations, scrutinising any alliance with France through the lens of national interest CHECK OUT: Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with LEGIT. Enroll Now! Abuja , FCT - Phrank Shaibu, special assistant on public communication to ex-VP Atiku Abubakar, has warned that the Tinubu administration must tread carefully in its dealings with France, citing concerns about Paris's neo-colonial ambitions in West Africa. Shaibu made his position known in an op-ed titled See Paris And Die! released on Thursday, December 26. France's waning influence in West Africa Shaibu's warning comes amidst a backdrop of France's waning influence in the region, with several countries rejecting French dominance. PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! France is facing a diplomatic crisis in Africa , particularly in West Africa, where it has maintained significant influence over its former colonies for decades. Read also FG breaks silence on terror links with France to destabilise Niger Republic: “A dangerous attempt” However, countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Niger are increasingly rejecting French dominance, with military coups leading to the expulsion of French troops and businesses. France and Nigeria: A new alliance? Amidst this backdrop, France appears to be seeking a new alliance with Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration. In November, President Tinubu embarked on a three-day working visit to France following President Emmanuel Macron's invitation. However, Shaibu raised concerns about this development, recalling the historical tensions between France and Nigeria. According to him, France has traditionally viewed Nigeria as a competitor and threat to its influence in West Africa, while Nigeria has not forgotten France's support for Biafran secessionists during the civil war. Tread carefully, Shaibu advises Tinubu's govt Shaibu warned that the brewing alliance has far-reaching implications for Nigeria. He cautioned that Nigeria risks becoming a pawn in France's neo-colonial ambitions, undermining its sovereignty and regional leadership aspirations. Read also Year in review: 7 political events that shaped Nigeria in 2024 He urged the Tinubu administration to tread carefully, emphasising that Nigeria cannot afford to become a stepping stone for France's resurgence in West Africa. Shaibu stressed the importance of scrutinising any alliance with France through the lens of national interest and historical experience. His words: "The Tinubu administration must tread carefully. 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. 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." Read also Presidency spits fire as Peter Obi addresses tragic stampedes across Nigeria: “You lack decency” Read more about Nigeria-France relations Nigerian state visit signals shift in France's Africa strategy Peter Obi Knocks Tinubu Over Visit to France FG Breaks Silence on Alleged Links with France to Destabilise Niger Republic Nigerian president woos French investment on state visit Earlier, Legit.ng reported that President Tinubu said Nigeria is "open for business" as he embarked on a state visit to France, with Paris looking to boost ties in English-speaking Africa following a series of setbacks with former allies on the continent. The 72-year-old president met with his French counterpart, Macron, during the first official state visit by a Nigerian leader in more than two decades. Macron, 46, who has sought a "renewal" between Paris and Africa since his 2017 election, said his country would "continue to invest" in Nigeria when France's influence on the continent wanes following military coups and changing attitudes. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ngAP Business SummaryBrief at 6:26 p.m. EST
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Multiple reports on Thursday and Friday indicated that Abe Akie, wife of late former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, is planning on visiting President-elect Donald Trump’s estate at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday. Abe, who served as prime minister during Trump’s first term in office, was the first world leader to meet with Trump after his election victory in 2016. The two developed a close friendship, and Abe was often cited as the world head of government with the most access to Trump. Abe Akie and First Lady Melania Trump also reportedly developed a close relationship, sharing the responsibilities of being First Lady of their countries, and regularly engaged each other when their husbands met. Reuters reported , citing an anonymous source, on Friday that the Trumps invited Akie to dine at Mar-a-Lago and that she would attend on Sunday, apparently with Melania Trump. It noted the detail, originally reported by CNN, that the Trumps continued investing in their relationship with Abe Akie after her husband’s death and that the president-elect has, in the two years since Abe Shinzo’s murder, called his widow regularly to check on her. The Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun also reported , citing its own sources, that Abe Akie was “making arrangements to visit the United States.” The newspaper reported that the former first lady was planning on meeting with Melania Trump and could potentially meet the president-elect as part of that engagement. U.S. first lady Melania Trump, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s wife Akie Abe look at koi carps in a pond at the Japanese style annex inside the State Guest House in Tokyo Monday, May 27, 2019. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool Photo via AP) A conservative and one of the most dominant political figures in modern Japanese history, Abe ultimately stepped down from his position due to health issues. The politician struggled with ulcerative colitis and, at the time of his resignation, said that he had not brought the condition under enough control to make it possible for him to fulfill his duties at prime minister. He appeared to be preparing a political comeback, supporting his conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on the campaign trail, when he was shockingly assassinated in broad daylight in July 2022. The killer, identified as 41-year-old Yamagami Tetsuya, said he was looking for revenge against the controversial Unification Church, which he claimed had stolen money from his mother, and Abe was the closest figure with any notable ties to the church that he could find with minimal enough security around him to make him a viable target. Abe Akie was a highly visible part of Abe’s tenure as prime minister. The first lady was supportive of her husband and a presence on the campaign trail while also advocating for her own political views, which often differed to those advanced by the LDP. Abe, for example, participated in a gay rights march in 2014, in support of an end to social stigmas against gay and lesbian people. Abe Akie has also publicly participated in events apparently expressing contrition for the position of Imperial Japan against the United States. In 2016, for example, when the Abes visited the United States, Abe Akie made an individual trip to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to honor the American soldiers killed by the surprise Japanese attack that marked the beginning of American involvement in World War II. “I understand that there are various debates and stances on Pearl Harbor, but I think that we have to pass on the memory to the next generation, transcending the feelings of hate and anger,” she said at the time. The visit was notable as Shinzo Abe was an enthusiastic supporter of amending the Japanese constitution to allow the country to possess a military, which pacifists in the country have long opposed. While Akie Abe was even often jokingly referred to as the true “opposition party” of Japan – especially given the years of ineffective organizing by Japanese leftist groups, the two maintained a united front and supported each other. The reports of an invitation and potential in-person meeting with President-elect Trump has caused some stirrings in Japan as the current prime minister, Ishiba Shigeru, has attempted repeatedly to meet with Trump to no avail. Ishiba is a member of Abe’s LDP but has struggled with favorability and was handed a party in shambles, hurt by corruption scandals and the growing animosity towards the Unification Church, which has been tied to the LDP in the public eye since Abe’s assassination. Ishiba spoke to Trump shortly after the presidential election in November, but has not succeeded in meeting with him. Ishiba claimed that he was told that Trump could not legally meet with foreign leaders until after inauguration, but Trump has held multiple such meetings, including with Argentine President Javier Milei, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and several world leaders at the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. Follow Frances Martel on Facebook and Twitter.Cowboys opt to shut down Lamb for rest of yearNEW YORK (AP) — Minnesota pitchers Justin Topa and Brock Stewart agreed to one-year contracts ahead of Friday's tender deadline along with fellow right-hander Triston McKenzie of Cleveland and Cole Sulser of Tampa Bay. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * NEW YORK (AP) — Minnesota pitchers Justin Topa and Brock Stewart agreed to one-year contracts ahead of Friday's tender deadline along with fellow right-hander Triston McKenzie of Cleveland and Cole Sulser of Tampa Bay. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? NEW YORK (AP) — Minnesota pitchers Justin Topa and Brock Stewart agreed to one-year contracts ahead of Friday’s tender deadline along with fellow right-hander Triston McKenzie of Cleveland and Cole Sulser of Tampa Bay. Agreements and non-tenders reduced players eligible for arbitration to 169 from 238 at the start of last week. Teams and players are to exchange proposed arbitration salaries on Jan. 9, 2025, and those who don’t reach agreements will be scheduled for hearings from Jan. 27 through Feb. 14, 2025, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Topa was guaranteed $1,225,000 as part of a deal that included a $1 million salary for 2025 and a $2 million team option for 2026 with a $225,000 buyout. Stewart agreed to an $870,000 salary and can earn $30,000 in bonuses for days on the active roster: $10,000 for 112 and $20,000 for 142. McKenzie agreed to a $1.95 million, one-year contract and Sulser to a one-year deal that pays $900,000 in the major leagues and $450,000 while in the minors. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB Advertisement
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