What does courage in leadership really mean — the bravery to confront power, or the boldness to act only where resistance is weakest?
From Venezuela to Niger Republic, from Benin Republic to the streets and homes of ordinary Nigerians, a disturbing pattern has emerged under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: firmness is applied downward and outward against the weak, while restraint and silence dominate whenever real power is involved.
Venezuela: Silence in the Face of Power
When reports emerged of a direct United States action against the government of Venezuela, many countries in Africa, Latin America, and the Global South openly condemned what they described as a violation of sovereignty and international law. Military-led governments in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — hardly global heavyweights — spoke loudly, calling it “aggression.”
Nigeria did not.
There was no official statement from Abuja. No carefully worded diplomatic protest. No invocation of international law. No moral outrage. Africa’s most populous nation, long self-styled as a defender of sovereignty and non-interference, suddenly found its voice missing.
If sovereignty matters, does it only matter when the violator is weak?
Niger Republic: Loud Courage Against a Fragile Neighbour
Contrast that silence with Nigeria’s response to the 2023 coup in Niger.
As chairman of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Tinubu moved with breathtaking speed. Borders were shut. Financial sanctions imposed. Electricity supply from Nigeria — which accounted for over 70% of Niger’s power consumption — was cut. Military intervention was openly threatened.
ECOWAS even placed troops on standby.
Supporters hailed Tinubu as “courageous,” “decisive,” and “fearless.” Pro-government voices praised him for doing what others allegedly lacked the backbone to do. Yet this courage was exercised against a landlocked, impoverished neighbour with limited diplomatic leverage and no superpower allies capable of real retaliation.
The imbalance was obvious. So was the confidence.
Benin Republic: Intervention Without Hesitation
The pattern did not stop at Niger. In Benin, Nigeria played an assertive regional role amid political crises, disputed processes, and internal unrest. Diplomatic pressure was applied. Regional mechanisms were activated. Nigeria showed no hesitation in influencing outcomes and asserting authority.
Again, the target was a smaller, weaker state — economically, militarily, and diplomatically.
Again, courage flowed freely.
A Foreign Policy Pattern Emerges
Place Venezuela, Niger, and Benin side by side, and the contradiction becomes impossible to ignore:
Weak African states → threats, sanctions, intervention
Powerful global actor → silence
This is not principled consistency. It is selective courage — bravery calibrated by the likelihood of consequences.
The Same Courage Turned Inward
That same pattern does not stop at Nigeria’s borders. It is painfully familiar at home.
Fuel Subsidy Removal: Shock Therapy for the Poor
One of Tinubu’s first acts in office was the abrupt removal of fuel subsidies. The result was immediate and brutal. Petrol prices jumped from under ₦200 per litre to over ₦600–₦700 in many parts of the country — an increase of more than 200%.
Transportation costs soared. Food prices exploded. Inflation climbed to nearly 30%, one of the highest rates Nigeria has recorded in decades. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, food inflation alone crossed 33%, pushing millions closer to hunger.
Who absorbed this shock?
Not oil traders. Not political elites. Not multinational corporations.
It was the poor. The working class. Small traders. Salary earners.
The government called it “courageous reform.”
Electricity Tariffs: Paying More for Darkness
Electricity followed the same script. Under power sector “reforms,” tariffs for Band A consumers rose by more than 300% in some cases — with households paying over ₦200 per kilowatt-hour despite erratic supply.
Nigeria already ranks among countries with the highest electricity costs relative to income in Africa. Yet the solution offered was simple: pay more.
Again, courage was exercised downward. No confrontation with entrenched inefficiencies. No visible crackdown on corruption in the sector. Just higher bills for citizens who already generate their own power at enormous cost.
Tax Reforms: Sacrifice for the Weak, Relief for the Strong
The emerging tax framework reinforces the same imbalance. While ordinary Nigerians face higher consumption taxes and tighter enforcement, large corporations — including foreign firms — enjoy proposed rates as low as 15%, below what many small Nigerian businesses effectively pay.
In a country where over 60% of the population lives in multidimensional poverty, the message is unmistakable: sacrifice is demanded from those least able to bear it.
One Pattern, Everywhere
Abroad and at home, the pattern holds:
Weak neighbours → confrontation
Poor citizens → austerity
Powerful states and elites → caution
This is not accidental. It is a governing instinct.
The Defenders Will Argue…
Supporters will say this is “realism.” They will invoke diplomacy, economics, and global power structures. They will argue Nigeria cannot afford to offend superpowers or subsidise inefficiency forever.
But realism without moral consistency is not leadership. It is calculation.
Courage that evaporates in the presence of power is not courage at all.
Conclusion: Courage, Redefined
True courage in leadership is not measured by how hard you strike the weak, but by how firmly you confront power and how carefully you protect the vulnerable.
A presidency that speaks loudly only where it is safe, and governs harshly only where resistance is weakest, may appear bold — but history is rarely fooled by appearances.
In the end, Nigeria will ask a simple question of this era:
Was this courage — or merely convenience dressed as strength?
Mohammed Bello Doka can be reached via [email protected]
Abuja Network News
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Opinion