The relationship between Nigeria and France is rooted in variables like history, geography and contemporary dynamics. Perhaps the most relevant of these is that Nigeria is entirely surrounded by francophone countries. And such is the nature of these latter social formations that till date, there is some sort of umbilical-cord attachment between these countries and metropolitan France. Therefore, President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent visit to Paris is consistent with certain contemporary realities which currently assail the Nigerian state.
It is apposite to remember that one of President Buhari’s earliest foreign trips was to our immediate neighbours. These visits were part of Nigeria’s efforts to contain the scourge of Boko Haram, given the irredentist profile and style of the insurgents. On this note, it does not take much to appreciate that some form of close coordination was needed between Nigeria and her neighbours if the scourge of Boko Haram was to be completely eliminated. Therefore, after due consultations with these francophone countries, the subsequent and logical step was for the president to do a follow-up by visiting Paris.
In view of the foregoing, scholars and analysts of a particular bent may want to criticise President Buhari for giving undue recognition to France, a country which can easily be viewed as an intrusive power in the West African sub-region. Such a perspective, however, would not serve Nigeria’s interests. This is because current power realities in the sub-region clearly justify the president’s recent Paris visit. Considering the organic linkages between Nigeria’s neighbours and France, any form of coordination between Abuja and her neighbours without drawing in France could well amount to clapping with one hand.
Those with a long memory will readily appreciate that Buhari’s visit to Paris could even be viewed as a something of a radical departure from the intermittent bouts of hostility that characterised the relationship between Nigeria and France in earlier times. But despite those episodes of hostility, France has continued to protect and expand her economic interests with Nigeria. Such interests can be observed in various areas like oil, construction and the automobile industry.
The immediate foregoing may well explain why the president’s recent visit was not just about the Boko Haram insurgents but also involved consultations and discussions with the business community in France. But if the status of Nigeria as a mere market and consumer is anything to go by, her interaction with an industrial giant like France will only leave us holding the short end of the stick. In this regard, some analysts have contended that despite the brittle relationship between Nigeria and France, the latter continues to reap bountiful economic benefits from this relationship.
Meanwhile, as a device for consolidating these benefits, Paris has also deployed elements of soft power. The overall aim, particularly in the long term, is to ensure a situation in which the status of French is revised from that of a foreign language to that of a second language.
Another instance and projection of such soft power can be observed in the fact that starting from the ’80s, France embarked on the strategy of giving scholarships to young Nigerians for doctoral studies in France. Today, this strategy continues to bear fruit as a number of such Nigerians have since returned home, where they currently occupy strategic positions in our various educational institutions.
Given the above scenario, we should closely examine the import of Buhari’s recent visit to Paris. From all indications, Nigeria, especially in relating with its neighbours, also has on its hands a calculating and intrusive power like France which has the capacity to blunt our efforts.
On this note, we can only hope that our own foreign policy establishment will take a long-term view of the evolving scenarios and put in place counter-strategies which will ensure that Nigeria comes into her own as a potent regional power. As things stand, Buhari’s recent visit may well be the first step in that direction. Other steps, which are urgently required, revolve around the need to build a coherent state that is largely devoid of corruption and which, like Japan, will turn the neighbourhood into a zone of co-prosperity.
This, indeed, is the ultimate task before President Muhammadu Buhari. And if he should lead Nigeria in this particular and positive direction, chances are that the occupant of the Elysee Palace will also come knocking on the doors of Aso Rock.
