Coup in Niger Republic? So what? This is what! By Bimbo Manuel

Ok so, a coup d’etat happens in Niger Republic and French flags are being burnt, people protesting and demanding that France, their colonial masters should get out of the country.

Same thing in almost the whole of the African Sahel – Mali, Burkina Faso, etc.

In fact some of the former French colonies in West Africa have switch from French as official language.

Now, we recall that Niger has the second largest American military base in Africa, after Sudan.

The French also have a massive military base in Niger.

Niger sits right on top of Nigeria.

ECOWAS has threatened to use military options if Niger does not reinstate the ousted president and the coupists have dared them in return.

Nigeria is also on the verge of a turmoil, what with fuel subsidy removal, threat of labor nationwide strike, mass rage against the government for midwifing their perceived suffering, not to mention what many consider an unpopular president installed via a questioned election.

And suddenly, James Cleverly, Secretary of State for Foreign, etc, appears in Nigeria to talk about UK support for food security in Nigeria.

I think this is good. In fact, it’s very good and of course tickles the interest of global watchers, as they probably intended it to. It will also be interesting to interrogate the content of his speech at the Ebony Place, Victoria Island Lagos.

So, if we permit our cynicism full rein, we may be tempted to wonder what the teak purpose of his visit is.

We may wonder if indeed this is about supporting the nation’s food security program, could he have done it from London, at the diplomatic level? After all, there is probably a direct line to the Nigerian President straight from his office. In this regard, we must especially remember how at arms length, British and American officials have treated Nigeria until now – high level visits to various parts of Africa with most of them flying over Nigeria, largest economy, strategically located and most populous nation on the continent, right at the base of two powerful international military bases.

We may be tempted to ask, what his real purpose is and how much of a smokescreen this food security visit to Lagos is.

This becomes a pertinent question considering that yes, Lagos may be the largest economy in Nigeria, but the food security agenda is a creation of Abuja and Lagos produces next to nothing in terms of food, not even fish!

Is he going to Abuja? Who will he see?

I hope President Ahmed Bola Tinubu maximizes his chance to squeeze Britain for  all we can get.

Britain is learning from France. They do not want to lose their foothold in the West African sub-region, the way France has pushed her former colonies to oust them.

I think these are momentous days and the African diplomatic millieu is changing…

…did some African leaders not just return from Russia, lavishly received by Putin himself?

I think we should keep a watch on these developments and I hope African finally gets her due at the negotiating table.

It is just BIMBO MANUEL…being naughty again