Former President Obasanjo’s position on Nigeria’s international stature under Tinubu, not backed by verifiable data, TMSG insists

The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has dismissed claims by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu’s watch is totally missing in global decision-making, saying his stance lacks solid verifiable data.

In a statement by its Chairman Emeka Nwankpa and Secretary Dapo Okubanjo, the group accused the former President of twisting facts to play unnecessary politics against the incumbent administration.

“We consider recent comments by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in a wide-ranging TV interview concerning the President Bola Tinubu administration especially on Nigeria’s place on the international stage as uncharitable.

“While the elder statesman who spent his first term in office on a globe-trotting binge suggested that Nigeria on President Tinubu’s watch had lost respect internationally, we make bold to say that the President has made impactful trips to major countries, mainly on invitation. What other sign of global respect does former President Obasanjo want the country to attract other than high-level engagements from some of the most important players in the comity of nations?

“And contrary to the former President’s position that Nigeria is no longer ‘at the table’ of global decision-making, President Tinubu’s country-to-country engagements in major cities of the world from Paris to London to Ankara and Beijing since assuming office have significantly enhanced Nigeria’s global image.

“We see this as part of efforts at building influence on the global stage. Which is why it was not a surprise that when Nigeria took up the gauntlet of foiling a coup plot in Benin that could have further eroded democratic gains in the West African sub-region, the country received instant global applause.

“We invite President Obasanjo to note that this was similar to what Nigeria under him achieved in 2003 when it restored democracy in Sao Tome and Principe by reinstating President Fradique de Menezes, who had been toppled in a military coup,” it said.

The group also dismissed the former President’s criticism of Nigeria’s action against the Republic of Niger’s military leadership after the overthrow of former President Mohamed Bazoum.

“It is ironic that Obasanjo who drastically checkmated coupists in Sao Tome can now accuse Tinubu of acting rashly as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and government when he took a hardline stance against the overthrow of a legitimate democratic government in Niger.

“We acknowledged that President Tinubu ordered the temporary closure of the country’s borders with Niger followed by cutting the power supply to the country in line with ECOWAS-approved sanctions. We are convinced that former President Obasanjo would have done more.

“So it beggars belief that a man who, in 2003, justified his intervention in restoring Sao Tome and Principe on the premise that military coups were arbitrary, disruptive and no longer fashionable would now turn round to claim that Tinubu’s action against Niger was ill-conceived because of long-standing ties between both countries.

“We do not think that a former President and elder statesman should engage in publicly undermining successive governments in media interviews”, the statement added.