Former South-East Presidential Spokesman, Denge Josef Onoh, has strongly advised French President Emmanuel Macron to immediately suspend his upcoming state visit to Nigeria, scheduled for October 28 and 29, 2026. Onoh declared that leadership demands presence during domestic turmoil, asserting that Macron cannot engage in international diplomatic tourism while major civil unrest and protests destabilize France.

In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday in Abuja, Onoh said that

“True statesmanship requires prioritizing the home front when the foundations are shaking,” Onoh stated. “President Macron cannot be seen playing global politics and chasing bilateral photo-ops in Abuja while the streets of Paris and other French cities are burning. You do not go structural shopping in Africa when your own house is on fire.”

Onoh extended his deepest sympathies to the French government and the French people during this difficult period of unrest, offering a profound reflection on the crisis.

“For most of us who call France home, or who have embraced its warm, beautiful hospitality and love, it is deeply painful to watch what is happening today. This unrest is destroying the very fabric that has united and cultivated France’s rich cultural heritage.

It is time for the French government to focus on enduring French values over temporary political values. Going forward, France must place its core identity first and welcome only those who explicitly accept to conform to, respect, and promote those values. A nation’s strength lies in the preservation of its foundational heritage.”

Turning his attention to the political climate in Nigeria, Onoh emphasized that the French President’s visit is a complete misplacement of priorities for both nations, especially as Nigeria prepares for its next political transition.

“Nigeria has its problems, and it is the sole responsibility of Nigerians to focus on and solve their own problems. Right now, Nigeria must focus heavily on its upcoming political future. We must try to build a better nation by using the great opportunity of the 2027 presidential elections to elect a leader who can fundamentally rebuild Nigeria’s economy and restore our institutional credibility.

With our nation’s focus properly geared toward this critical democratic milestone, President Macron’s visit at this specific point in time will do more harm than good. It is a distraction Nigeria does not need, and it is totally the wrong time and the wrong priority for France. It is morally wrong for a President of France to abandon his nation, effectively playing the fiddle while Rome burns, and coming to ask Nigeria for ‘just one more dance.’ Oh no, my dear France! Your priority is at home.”

Onoh reminded President Macron that history judges leaders by how they handle internal crises, pointing out that previous French leaders understood when to cancel foreign itineraries to face domestic realities:

• The Precedent of King Charles III’s Postponed Visit (2023): In March 2023, President Macron himself had to request the postponement of a highly anticipated state visit by Britain’s King Charles III due to violent protests over pension reforms across France. If France could tell a foreign monarch to stay away because the country was unsafe and unstable, Macron must apply that same logic to his own travels now.

• The 1968 Crisis (Charles de Gaulle): During the historic civil unrest and wildcat strikes of May 1968, President Charles de Gaulle canceled planned international engagements, cut short a state visit to Romania, and focused entirely on stabilizing the French Republic.

• The 2005 Civil Unrest (Jacques Chirac): During the intense suburban riots of 2005, then-President Jacques Chirac canceled non-essential international obligations and declared a state of emergency, remaining firmly on French soil to command the domestic response.

Onoh urged the Nigerian presidency to look at the situation pragmatically, noting that a visiting head of state distracted by severe domestic crises cannot fully commit to the economic, energy, and security pacts Nigeria seeks to secure.

“We love diplomacy, and Nigeria remains a premier destination for global partnerships. However, we need a French President who is stable at home to partner with us effectively abroad. For the sake of the French people and the integrity of international diplomacy, President Macron should stay in Paris, face the protesters, address their grievances, and reschedule his Nigerian visit for a time when France is not burning,” Onoh concluded.