From €300 Million Paris Pact to French Flag in Lagos: City Boys Symbolize Tinubu's Sold Sovereignty In the shadowy corridors of internat...
In the shadowy corridors of international politics, where economic deals mask deeper agendas, France's relationship with Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has raised alarms of neocolonial interference. Since Tinubu's inauguration in 2023, his administration has cozied up to Paris with unprecedented fervor, signing multimillion-euro agreements that critics argue amount to indirect financing of his regime. But this "bromance" with French President Emmanuel Macron goes beyond mere diplomacy, it's a calculated strategy to prop up Tinubu amid domestic turmoil, while allegedly pulling the strings behind his grassroots support network, the City Boy Movement. As anti-French sentiment sweeps the Sahel, forcing Paris out of former colonies like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, France appears to have found a new foothold in Africa's most populous nation, at the expense of Nigerian sovereignty.
The Financial Lifeline: France's €300 Million "Investments" as Covert Support
Tinubu's frequent pilgrimages to France over six visits in just three years tell a tale of dependency disguised as partnership. During his November 2024 state visit to Paris, Tinubu and Macron inked deals worth €300 million, targeting infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, and renewable energy. On the surface, these agreements promise development across Nigeria's geopolitical zones, with French Development Agency (AFD) commitments to fund projects under Tinubu's "Renewed Hope Agenda." Yet, skeptics see this as indirect financing to bolster Tinubu's flailing economy and political machine, especially as Nigeria grapples with inflation, fuel subsidy removals, and currency devaluation.
French companies are ramping up engagements in finance, technology, and agriculture, with Nigerian banks like Zenith and UBA expanding operations in France. Macron himself pledged continued investments during the talks, focusing on sectors like solid minerals and energy transition. But why the urgency? As France loses ground in Francophone Africa due to coups and public backlash, it pivots to English-speaking giants like Nigeria, using economic aid as a trojan horse to regain regional influence. Critics accuse Paris of funneling funds not just for development, but to ensure Tinubu's loyalty, effectively bankrolling his administration's survival amid protests and economic hardship.
Adding fuel to the fire are allegations from neighboring Niger's head of state, Abdourahamane Tchiani, who claimed Tinubu accepted substantial payments from France in exchange for granting them a military base in northern Borno State. This deal, would allow France to counter Russian and local influences in the Sahel, using Nigerian soil as a proxy. Such accusations paint France as a puppeteer, indirectly financing Tinubu's regime to advance its geopolitical chess game, while Nigeria's north becomes a bargaining chip.
The Chagoury Connection: France's Proxy in Tinubu's Inner Circle
At the heart of this Franco-Nigerian entanglement lies Gilbert Chagoury, the Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire often dubbed Tinubu's "godfather." Chagoury's family empire, with deep roots in France and West Africa, has secured massive contracts under Tinubu, including the Lagos-Calabar Highway and Eko Atlantic City. Honored with national awards by Tinubu, Chagoury's ties to Macron and French business circles are no secret, serving as a conduit for Parisian influence. Detractors argue that France uses figures like Chagoury to indirectly support Tinubu, channeling investments that benefit elite allies while mortgaging Nigeria's resources.
Reports suggest Tinubu has even ceded control of solid minerals to French mining interests, a move allegedly orchestrated through Minister Dele Alake. This isn't partnership, it's exploitation, with France extracting wealth from Nigeria's bowels to fund its own recovery from African losses, all while propping up a leader seen as pliable to foreign whims.
Orchestrating the City Boy Movement: France's Symbolic and Strategic Puppetry
Perhaps the most brazen symbol of French meddling is the City Boy Movement, Tinubu's youth mobilization arm led by figures like his son Seyi and socialite Cubana Chief Priest. Ostensibly a grassroots effort to rally urban supporters for Tinubu's 2027, the movement's flag a vertical blue-white-red tricolor—bears an uncanny resemblance to France's national banner. Intelligence report decry this as no coincidence but a deliberate emblem of submission, signaling that France is the hidden force behind the City Boys.
Some report revealed that the movement is French-orchestrated, using Tinubu's "elites" to sway public opinion while Paris pulls the strings. As neighboring countries expel French troops and reject colonial ties, Tinubu's embrace of the tricolor flag is seen as a betrayal of pan-African solidarity. France, desperate for a new African ally, allegedly funds and directs this "movement" to manufacture consent for Tinubu, ensuring his regime advances French interests in resources and security. Even without visa-free perks for Nigerians, Tinubu's deals prioritize French gains, turning the City Boys into unwitting foot soldiers in a neocolonial playbook.
Tinubu's "precious Frenchship" isn't mutual benefit, it's a one-sided affair where France indirectly finances a regime to reclaim lost influence, all while engineering movements like the City Boys to legitimize it. As Macron hosts lavish receptions and signs checks, Nigeria risks becoming Paris's new proxy in Africa, mortgaging its future for fleeting "investments." With accusations from Niger and growing domestic outrage, it's time for Nigerians to question: Has Tinubu sold Nigeria to France, or is this just the latest chapter in colonial exploitation? The tricolor waves not as a symbol of hope, but as a flag of surrender.
Written for Family Writers Press International.
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