Comrade Timi Frank, a former deputy national publicity secretary of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has cautioned Nigerian and wider African leadership against signing new arrangements with France, describing such understandings as “devilish” and harmful to ordinary people. In a statement issued on Friday, Frank urged African youth to resist any renewed push by France to reassert influence across the continent.
His warning follows recent diplomatic activity between Paris and selected African leaders, where a wide range of deals were signed during the “Africa Forward: Africa–France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth Summit” held in Nairobi, Kenya. The summit was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron alongside several African heads of state, including Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Frank argued that France is seeking to rebuild its standing in Africa after experiencing setbacks in a number of French-speaking countries. He characterised the newly reported agreements as a “Greek gift,” asserting that they would fail to deliver meaningful gains for African citizens and would not support authentic development throughout the region.
The APC figure also said African leaders should prioritise the welfare of their populations over personal political goals and alliances driven by corruption. He warned that agreements with France would primarily serve the interests of elites rather than the public, urging rejection of such deals.
“Any agreement signed with France will only benefit the leaders themselves and not the people. Africans must reject such deals because they are like death warrants for the continent,” Frank said.
He added: “Africans should reject leaders who mortgage the future of their countries for selfish gains. The continent deserves partnerships that promote development, security and prosperity for the people.”
