By Kolawole Ojebisi
President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, left the shores of Nigeria for Paris, France, on a “private visit”
This is contained in a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga
According to Onanuga, Tinubu will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron during his trip.
He added that the president would subsequently leave Paris for Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.
“In Addis Ababa, President Tinubu will join African leaders at the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU Heads of State, scheduled from February 12th to 16th, 2025,” the statement added.
Tinubu is scheduled to arrive in Addis Ababa early next week. Last November, Tinubu travelled to France for a three-day state visit.
From a live band performance to signed MoUs, the president’s visit stirred controversial debates about France’s intent, especially after the presidency said the trip was at Macron’s behest.
Shortly after his return, reports surfaced alleging that a French military base would soon be sited in the north-east after Femi Oluyede, chief of army staff, reportedly received French soldiers.
Abdourahamane Tchiani, military leader of Niger Republic, had also claimed that France was negotiating with terrorists in Nigeria to destabilise his country.
The federal government dismissed the allegations.
Amid the chaos, Macron said Sahelian leaders were “ungrateful” for failing to acknowledge France’s role in crushing terrorism in the region.
