Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said Nigeria has lost its influence in regional affairs, accusing President Bola Tinubu of mishandling the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
In an exclusive interview with News Central, Obasanjo said Nigeria is no longer playing a leading role in shaping decisions within the sub-regional bloc.
“Today, Nigeria is not at the table,” he said.
He questioned the country’s current level of influence across the region.
“What is happening that Nigeria is influencing or impacting, and upon whom is Nigeria impacting?” he asked.
Obasanjo criticised the handling of ECOWAS under Tinubu’s leadership, saying decades of diplomatic effort have been undermined.
“Look at the way we have handled ECOWAS. Something that took us 50 years to build — overnight, we mishandled it and we have virtually destroyed it,” he said.
His comments come against the backdrop of growing tensions within the bloc, following the exit of three member states.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS in July 2024, citing disagreements with the organisation’s policies and approach to governance in the region.
The three countries have since moved to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), further deepening divisions within West Africa.
