Nigeria, Dec. 15 -- Why history, power, and present danger demand caution.

Nigeria's regional leadership is being contested today, not because Nigeria lacks strength, ideas, or legitimacy, but because its actions are increasingly framed as extensions of French neo-colonial influence. That perception has become the single most effective political shield for military juntas in the Sahel. It is not an accident. It is the product of history, memory, and a long pattern of behavior by Paris that Africans know too well.

France has never been a friend of Nigeria. It has been polite when it suited its interests, competitive when Nigeria grew stronger, and hostile by proxy whenever Nigeria threatened French dominance in West Africa. This is not e...