Dr. Usman Bugaje, former Member of the House of Representatives, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu's loyalists, dubbed the 'Lagos Boys,' played a pivotal role in misguided decisions following the post-Niger coup crisis. Bugaje, who represented Katsina state, accused the Lagos Boys of arrogance and a failure to consult experts before advising Tinubu on the matter.
The crisis unfolded after a coup ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in Niger, leading Tinubu, as the ECOWAS Chairman, to take actions beyond the organization's brief, including closing the Niger-Nigerian border and cutting off essential supplies. Bugaje, recently returning from Niger, highlighted the negative reactions from Nigeriens and emphasized the need for Nigeria to reconsider its approach.
The ECOWAS summit over the weekend saw the lifting of sanctions on Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, marking a potential shift in the regional dynamics.
The revelations by Bugaje shed light on the internal dynamics influencing Nigeria's response to the crisis and the challenges it poses to diplomatic relations in the region
