{
  "id": 16546509,
  "title": "Tinubu: Lion at home, lamb abroad?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/tinubu-lion-at-home-lamb-abroad",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-26T01:18:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/tinubu-lion-at-home-lamb-abroad/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's leadership in Nigeria is a complex mix of strengths and weaknesses. One of his admirable traits is his lack of vindictiveness, unlike his predecessor, President Obasanjo. Tinubu has managed to bring his political critics into his government, a surprising move compared to other Nigerian leaders. He is not an accidental leader, but one who rose to power through personal dedication, a rare occurrence in Nigerian politics.\n\nTinubu stands above the fray, a unique position among Nigerian presidents since 1999. However, this isn't without its challenges. Nigerian ruling parties are often characterized by internal dissent, which serves as a balance to the president's power. Under Tinubu, this is absent, and his grip on various sectors of the government is ironclad. He has shown that even favoured appointees are not immune to removal, demonstrating his power.\n\nDespite his strong domestic image, Tinubu's power appears hollow. His appeal isn't based on popular admiration or ideological belief, but rather on his deep pockets or the fear of losing their job. This makes him the most politically vulnerable president since 1999, especially considering the economic hardships faced by most Nigerians. Despite this, a clear majority of Nigerians are unhappy with the country's condition, but lack the energy or hope to effect change.\n\nOn the global stage, Tinubu's leadership is less impressive. He has agreed to a U.S. \"America First Global Health Strategy\", effectively ceding Nigeria's sovereignty in return for health data. This data is then used by U.S. companies to manufacture drugs and vaccines, which they resell back to Nigeria at high profits. This policy, while economically beneficial for some, is seen by many as a betrayal of Nigeria's sovereignty. Every major foreign policy decision this government has made since 2023 has primarily served foreign interests, particularly those of France, Britain, the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.",
  "summary": "We should begin where we must. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has his virtues. For one, he is not given to petty vindictiveness as former President Obasanjo too often was. Tinubu has not been involved in any open political fights with governors or lawmakers as Obasanjo did. Instead, he appears generally forgiving and conciliatory, having brought […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}