Thread by @MatthewTPage

So far, @USinNigeria, @EUinNigeria, and @AusHCAbuja remained silent on #TwitterBan, standing by as Nigerian democracy sharply backslides before our eyes. @UKinNigeria has spoken, but too softly. Only @CanHCNigeria and @NicolasJSimard has sounded the alarm. 1/

For the umpteenth time, I will make the observation that @USinNigeria @AsstSecStateAF and, in many instances, @UKinNigeria policy toward Nigeria is broadly failing because it demonstrably does not *in fact* prioritize democracy and governance in the ways it purports to do. 2/

Both countries over-prioritize their relationships with Nigeria's kleptocratic, incompetent, and authoritarian elites at their expense of their relationship with Nigerians writ large. In doing so, they will be on the wrong side of history as Nigeria barrels further off course. 3/

If I were a Western diplomat, I would be worried about how cynically Nigerians view international engagement. So much tone deafness. @USinNigeria post-Lekki. @UKinNigeria photo ops with predatory/corrupt security chiefs. I don’t understand these flawed cost/benefit judgments.

I simply don’t understand how Western engagement with the Nigerian government is still so *normal* and thus disconnected from the way the government behaves or how its elites—with whom diplomats readily hobnob—immiserate everyday Nigerians and undermine national stability.

Privately, Western diplomats/policymakers hope that Nigerian elites like PMB will change their behaviors out of concern for their legacy. I would argue that they should do the same. How will history remember their silence and empty hand-wringing as Nigeria’s civic space closes?