Abuja, Nigeria — Nollywood actor and Labour Party chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his handling of the political crisis in Niger Republic, describing it as diplomatically reckless and ineffective.
In an interview with Symfoni, Okonkwo expressed concern over what he called President Tinubu’s “impulsive and unenforceable” reaction to the military coup that ousted Niger’s civilian government in July 2023. He said the president hastily issued a seven-day ultimatum to the coup leaders, demanding that they return power or face forceful removal, without the means to follow through on the threat.
Okonkwo argued that international diplomacy requires restraint and strategic planning, not provocative declarations. He noted that while diplomacy often involves subtle language backed by real power, President Tinubu relied on harsh rhetoric with no actual leverage. According to him, this approach not only undermined Nigeria’s influence but also strained relations with key West African nations.
He further alleged that the fallout from this strategy has weakened Nigeria’s regional ties, particularly with Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, which have increasingly distanced themselves from Nigeria and ECOWAS. Okonkwo claimed that Tinubu was attempting to extend domestic propaganda tactics into international affairs, an approach he said is damaging Nigeria’s credibility on the global stage.
“What we are witnessing is a misuse of power and a misunderstanding of diplomacy,” Okonkwo said. “You don’t shout threats without the ability to act. That’s not leadership; it’s posturing.”
The interview segment highlighting Okonkwo’s remarks can be viewed from the 1:11:46 timestamp on Symfoni’s platform. His comments come amid growing public scrutiny over Nigeria’s foreign policy direction under Tinubu’s administration, especially in relation to regional stability and leadership within ECOWAS.