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What is in France? Unpacking Tinubu’s many trips

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Since assuming office in May 2023, President Bola Tinubu has made France a frequent destination, sparking curiosity and debate among Nigerians.

With at least eight visits to the European nation since March 2023, including seven as president, the question on many lips is: What is in France?

The Presidency on Thursday announced a 10-day working vacation starting today, September 4, 2025.

Tinubu’s trips to Paris, which range from diplomatic meetings to rumoured medical vacations, raise unanswered questions.

As for why Tinubu frequently visits France, several factors emerge from available information:

Diplomatic and Economic Ties

Tinubu’s visits often focus on strengthening Nigeria-France relations. Nigeria is France’s top trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, with bilateral trade worth over $5 billion in 2023.

His state visit in November 2024, the first by a Nigerian leader in 24 years, aimed to boost investment in sectors like agriculture, energy, and infrastructure.

Strategic Meetings

Tinubu has utilised France as a base for important meetings. For example, his travel in April 2025 was called a “working visit” to review how his administration was doing in the middle of its term and prepare changes. He also reportedly used Paris as a meeting place for business and financial executives. Tinubu also met French President Emmanuel Macron during several visits, including in February 2025, before an African Union summit.

Medical Speculation

There is a lot of speculation, notably from critics, that Tinubu’s many trips may be for medical reasons. Several “private visits” (such in January 2024, August 2024, and February 2025) are thought to contain medical components, although they were officially described as diplomatic or personal.

The Presidency recently denied rumours that Tinubu is ill and is getting ready to be sent abroad for medical care. The Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, AbdulAziz AbdulAziz, told BBC Hausa that the Nigerian Institute for Investigative Journalism’s claims that the President was bedridden were false.

France’s African Strategy

France’s power in its old colonies (such Mali and Niger) because of competition from China and Russia is declining. Tinubu’s travels fit with France’s desire for economic ties, as French businesses like Danone and TotalEnergies are already doing business in Nigeria.

Personal Affinity

Tinubu apparently has a long-standing affection for France, visiting even before his presidency. By April 2025, he had spent at least 59 days in France during eight trips since assuming office in May 2023, more than any other country.

Tinubu’s trips show that Nigeria wants to be a player in the world arena, but the lack of openness behind some of them raises questions.  As the president keeps flying to Paris, the question is still: What is in France?

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Was government’s hyper reaction to Sowore’s protest necessary?

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When Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters and activist, announced a protest in Abuja for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, few expected it to draw such a heavy-handed response from the Nigerian government. Yet, on October 20, when the protest was scheduled to be held, the police descended on the protesters as if they were enemies of the state. The sight of armed officers arresting citizens who were simply exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest sent a disturbing message: Nigeria’s space for free expression is shrinking fast.

That this happened under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s watch makes the event even more disappointing. For decades, Tinubu stood as one of Nigeria’s most vocal opposition figures. He fought military dictatorship, demanded democracy, and benefited immensely from the freedoms that civil society and the media struggled to secure. Even as a governor, he opposed the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo and gained the sympathy of most Nigerians. As an opposition leader of the APC, he led protests against the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan. To see his government now turning against those who dare to speak or march peacefully is both ironic and painful.

The use of excessive force against peaceful protesters is not new in Nigeria. From the #EndSARS movement in 2020 to other smaller demonstrations, the APC administration has increasingly treated dissent as a crime. In the case of Muhammadu Buhari, his background as a military person and a dictator made it easier to understand. But for Tinubu, who has never been a military person and was a vocal opposition leader for decades, it has been disappointing.

What stands out in this case is the hypocrisy of those in power. The ruling All Progressives Congress rode to power on promises of freedom, reform, and respect for citizens’ rights. Many of its leaders, like Tinubu, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, participated in protests and spoke passionately about the importance of free speech and accountability.

Now, when ordinary citizens use the same democratic tools, the state responds with intimidation and arrests. This is not the democracy Nigerians were promised.

Every democracy recognises the right to protest as a key pillar of freedom. It is not a favour granted by the government. In Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly are clearly protected. Citizens do not need permission to voice their concerns.

I don’t need to agree with Sowore’s views. But it is his right to organise a protest. It is the right of Nigerians to choose whether to join the protest or not. The duty of the police is to be present to monitor the protest and ensure that hoodlums don’t hijack it.

When people like Sowore and others gather to demand justice or call attention to issues, they are not committing a crime. They are simply practising democracy by holding leaders accountable. A confident government that truly believes in its legitimacy should not feel uncomfortable with peaceful protests. Instead, it should listen, engage and respond with maturity. Using threats and excessive force against unarmed, peaceful protesters is the hallmark of a dictatorship. If a government spokesperson had addressed the protesters, that would have taken the wind out of the sails of the protest.

Tinubu’s rise to prominence came through his activism and opposition to military rule. As a member of the National Democratic Coalition in the 1990s, he fought for democracy and free expression. Those were noble struggles, and history rightly remembers Tinubu and his colleagues as heroes of democracy.

But history also judges what leaders do when they gain power. The measure of a true democrat is not how loudly he demands freedom when he is out of power, but how much of that freedom he protects when he is in power. By that measure, the Tinubu government’s record so far is worrying.

It is noteworthy that Sowore’s protest went beyond Nnamdi Kanu; it also highlighted the government’s double standards. On one hand, the government negotiates with bandits who come to meetings with guns and rocket launchers; on the other hand, the government arrests and detains those who protest with no weapons.

Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, has been detained since June 2021. He is facing trial on charges of treasonable felony and terrorism-related offences. Many Nigerians disagree with his methods and his vitriol. However, they believe he deserves a fair and speedy trial. Keeping him in detention indefinitely and refusing to obey court orders on him only deepens resentment and fuels division.

Sowore has positioned himself as a symbol of resistance against government excesses. The government has played into his hands by displaying intolerance. He has been arrested multiple times since 2019 for leading protests, yet he continues to speak up. Whether one agrees with his politics or not, his courage in the face of repression reflects the stubborn spirit of Nigerians who refuse to be silenced.

A government that hates dissent or crushes it loses moral authority. It portrays the government as insecure. The strength of any democracy does not lie in how it treats those who agree with it, but in how it treats those who disagree. When the government sees every critic as an enemy, it creates fear rather than loyalty.

Nigeria is already facing enormous challenges, which include economic hardship, insecurity, youth unemployment, and declining trust in public institutions. Silencing dissent will not solve these problems. On the contrary, it will worsen them. Citizens who cannot speak will find other, less peaceful ways to express their anger.

When the APC came to power in 2015, many Nigerians hoped for a new era of accountability and freedom. The party’s leaders criticised the previous government for corruption and intolerance. Yet, after over a decade in power, the APC has become worse than what it once opposed.

Under Tinubu, there was hope for renewal, given his history as a pro-democracy activist. But the early signs suggest a continuation of the same authoritarian tendencies that marked the Buhari years. The clampdown on protests, the arrests of journalists, the disregard for the Constitution in the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, and the rising fear among citizens to speak freely point to a democracy that is losing its soul. Today, the separation of powers that should exist among the legislature, executive and judiciary has vanished.

Although President Tinubu seems focused on securing a second term by all means necessary, there is still time to change his attitude toward dissent. Nigerians are easy to satisfy. Saying the right words and carrying out the right actions will easily see millions of opponents move to his side. Umaru Yar’Adua achieved it by acknowledging that the election that brought him in was faulty and showing the people that he was on their side. Tinubu can start by instructing security agencies to respect the rights of protesters and journalists. It is also crucial to release those detained for peaceful demonstrations and allow citizens to express themselves without fear.

Nigeria suffered for decades under a dictatorship. In 1999, it celebrated its return to civilian rule. This is not the type of democracy Nigerians fought for. Nigeria deserves a government that listens and not one that fears its people. True democracy is not about silencing the crowd and pressuring every opponent to become a supporter. It is about hearing the cry of the people and taking steps to stop the cry.

X: @BrandAzuka

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Sowore regains freedom after four days in Kuje prison

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Human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, regained his freedom on Monday after spending four days in the Kuje Custodial Centre, the Federal Capital Territory.

Sowore confirmed his release on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, writing, “HAPPENING NOW: Leaving Kuje Prison in Abuja after being detained there illegally for four days by @officialABAT, illegal IGP, Kayode Egbetokun. #FreeNnamdiKanuNow.”

The activist was among 14 people arrested by the Nigeria Police Force last week over the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration in Abuja.

Those detained included Aloy Ejimakor,  special counsel for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu.

The spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service FCT Command, Adamu Duza, confirmed Sowore’s release to our correspondent on Monday evening.

“Yes, Sowore has been released, along with 13 others who were arrested during the protest. He was granted bail,” Duza said.

The protesters were arraigned last Friday on charges of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace, before a Kuje Magistrate’s Court presided over by  Abubakar Said.

In his ruling, Sai’id granted each defendant bail in the sum of N500,000, with additional requirements, including the presentation of a verified National Identification Number, submission of a three-year tax clearance certificate, and the deposit of their passports.

After meeting these conditions, Sowore and the other defendants were released from Kuje Prison.

Sowore had been arrested last Thursday shortly after attending a court proceeding involving the IPOB at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

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Terrorism: Judge begs Nnamdi Kanu in ‘God’s name’ to consult lawyers

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Proceedings in the terrorism trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, took a dramatic turn on Monday, as the trial judge resorted to begging the defendant “in the name of God Almighty to consult properly,” before proceeding to defend himself.

Noting that Kanu had earlier fired his lawyers and opted to defend himself,  Justice James Omotosho stressed that he needed to consult legal experts because “this is not economics; this is criminal prosecution.”

“I am begging you in the name of God Almighty to consult properly,” the judge pleaded. “I am inclined to granting you the adjournment you seek.”

“I know you are educated, but you are not a lawyer. You need to consult experts in the field. Please make adequate consultation. This is not economics; this is criminal prosecution. Please, my brother, make adequate consultation. Criminal cases are not like other cases. I took the opportunity to explain to the defendant because he is not a lawyer,” the judge stressed.

Kanu is being prosecuted on seven counts of terrorism before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The court had on Friday adjourned till Monday for him to open his defence, after Kanu had submitted a list of 23 witnesses he intended to call.

Kanu said he needed an adjournment till Monday because his former legal team, led by a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), had yet to release his case file to him.

The IPOB leader expressed readiness to open his defence in a written application to the court, in which he indicated his intention to call witnesses and requested the issuance of witness summons.

Following his request, at the resumed sitting on Monday, the court reserved about five seats in the courtroom, each labelled “Summoned Witness,” in anticipation that Kanu would open his defence.

When the case was called, the Federal Government’s counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), announced his appearance, while Kanu identified himself by name and stated that he was representing himself.

Afterwards, Awomolo informed the court that the business of the day was for the defendant to open his defence.

Responding, Kanu, who initially sat in the dock, stood up and stated that he had gone through the case files and discovered that the charges were unlawful.

He argued that since the prosecution had failed to establish any case against him, there was no need to proceed with his defence.

“There is actually no charge against me,” he said.

Kanu further argued that there was no extant law in the country upon which the prosecution could premise its case.

“There is no case against me. If there is no case against me, it will be futile for me to enter any defence,” he added.

At that point, Justice Omotosho intervened and explained to Kanu that in a criminal trial, the defendant has three options after the prosecution closes its case.

He said the first option is for the defendant to make a no-case submission, and if the court overrules it, the defendant is required to enter a defence.

The judge added that where a defendant chooses not to open a defence, he may decide to rest on the prosecution’s case and file a written address, to which the prosecution will reply, after which the court will deliver its judgment.

After listening to the judge’s explanation, Kanu reiterated: “My position is that there is no charge against me. There is no need for me to enter a defence. What I am saying is that there is no case against me.”

Justice Omotosho then reminded him that he had earlier ruled on Kanu’s no-case submission and held that he had a case to answer, noting that the ruling still subsists.

Kanu subsequently applied for a week’s adjournment to enable him to file a written address in support of his argument that no valid charge was pending against him, claiming he was being subjected to an unnecessary trial.

He said: “I need a week to file a written address to the effect that there is no charge against me. If there is no extant law in Nigeria on which the charge could stand, there cannot be a case. You must please release me today or grant bail.”

Responding, Awomolo said that based on the defendant’s statement and the option he had taken, the court should adjourn for judgment.

“I take it that the defendant has said he is not putting in any defence because there is no valid charge against him,” Awomolo submitted.

“I want to submit that this position is conclusive of the defendant’s defence. I know that he took a plea to counts against him and pleaded not guilty. We led evidence, and he cross-examined our witnesses. Now that he says he has no defence, the case has been brought to a close,” the prosecution added.

Awomolo noted that at this stage, there was only one option for the defendant, adding that if Kanu’s objection was to be treated as his defence, the prosecution would respond, and the court would subsequently deliver its judgment.

He explained that Kanu’s current position implied that he had opted to address the court on points of law as his defence.

In his intervention, Justice Omotosho observed that the defendant was not entirely saying he had no defence, but rather that the charge against him could not stand.

He said: “That is also a form of defence. In that case, he will have to put that down in a written submission, which will be served on the prosecution, who will then respond.”

The judge then advised Kanu to consult experts before deciding on how to proceed.

“There is a need for you (Kanu) to consult people who are knowledgeable in criminal prosecution to advise you on how to proceed,” the judge said.

“I am begging you in the name of God Almighty to consult properly. I am inclined to granting you the adjournment you seek.

“I know you are educated, but you are not a lawyer. You need to consult experts in the field. Please make adequate consultation. This is not economics; this is criminal prosecution. Please, my brother, make adequate consultation. Criminal cases are not like other cases. I took the opportunity to explain to the defendant because he is not a lawyer,” Justice Omotosho added.

The trial judge said he has a duty to explain to the defendant the consequences of his decision not to enter a defence.

He added that after Kanu dismissed his legal team, the court had considered referring the case to the Legal Aid Council or any lawyer willing to take it pro bono, but Kanu declined, insisting that he would defend himself.

“Even at that, I still have a duty to explain the consequences of his option to him because he is not a lawyer. Please, make consultation,” the judge said.

The court granted Kanu four days from Monday to file his written address and serve the prosecution to enable it to file its reply.

Justice Omotosho then adjourned the matter till November 4, 5, and 6 for either the adoption of written addresses or for Kanu to open his defence, should he decide to change his mind.

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