In a recent interview on 90MinutesAfrica, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and human rights activist, Femi Falana, has strongly condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s private trip to France.
Falana expressed concern over Nigeria being exposed to ridicule and emphasized the need for the nation to uphold its dignity on the global stage.
Falana, noting Nigeria’s status as the country with the largest concentration of black people globally, criticized the lack of official recognition for President Tinubu during his visit to France. He called for an end to Nigerian presidents subjecting the country to embarrassment by traveling to nations where their presence is not officially acknowledged.
Highlighting a constitutional perspective, Falana pointed out that the Nigerian constitution does not provide for private visits by the president. He argued that a president cannot undertake a private visit while simultaneously managing the affairs of the nation. According to Falana, as long as the president remains actively involved in state matters, the concept of a private visit becomes irrelevant.
Drawing a historical parallel, Falana recounted how the late Afrobeat icon Fela Anikulakpo Kuti received official recognition during his private visits to France, with invitations from President Francois Mitterand. He questioned the contrast between Fela’s acknowledgment and the lack of official recognition for a Nigerian president on a similar “private visit.”
Beyond President Tinubu, Falana also criticized the foreign trip of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to Grenada for a socialite’s birthday party. The senior lawyer emphasized that governors should not engage in foreign affairs and questioned the governor’s attempt to legitimize the visit by involving the Prime Minister of Grenada.
In conclusion, Falana urged a reconsideration of such trips, emphasizing the need for public officials to maintain the country’s dignity and uphold constitutional provisions regarding official engagements abroad.
