Prof. Usman Yusuf, a former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, has expressed his belief that President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration lacks experience in foreign policy.
In an interview with THE SUN, Yusuf stated that Tinubu’s swift inclination towards a military solution to address the crisis in Niger Republic, following the military’s takeover of the government, reveals a tendency to act without proper consideration. He commented, “He shoots before asking questions.”
Yusuf emphasized the importance of diplomatically resolving the crisis in Niger. He cited a past example, recalling that in 2000, former President Olusegun Obasanjo successfully utilized backdoor channels to address a coup in Niger after then President Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara was ambushed and shot at the airport. Yusuf urged President Tinubu to prioritize Nigeria’s interests, given his election by the Nigerian populace and his current role as ECOWAS chairman due to Nigeria’s influence.
Yusuf firmly asserted that engaging in war with Niger would have negative consequences for Nigeria, particularly due to the longstanding amicable relationship between the two neighboring countries.
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