French President, Emmanuel Macron and his Nigerian counterpart, Bola Tinubu, have set tongues wagging by exchanging tweets in pidgin.
Macron fired the first salvo on Thursday evening, when he described Tinubu’s state visit as a “big honour for France,” emphasising the strong partnership and friendship between the two nations.
He wrote on his official X handle, “Na big honour for France, dear President Bola Tinubu @officialABAT, to welcome you for dis state visit as one big partner and friend of today and tomorrow.”
Macron, who had interned at the French Embassy in Nigeria earlier in his career, also reflected on his connection to Nigeria, saying, “E still dey sweet me well well as I remember say I be young intern for French Embassy for Nigeria that time.”
Tinubu responded:
“Merci beaucoup, President Macron @EmmanuelMacron.
Na big privilege to dey strengthen dis bond wey join Nigeria and France together. E sweet me well well to hear say di memories of your time as young intern for Nigeria still dey inspire you. E show say di connection between our two countries strong and go continue dey strong.
We must to continue dey build dis our partnership wey stand for mutual respect and equality, wey go help di dreams of our people today and create better future for tomorrow. Thanks for di warm welcome and fruitful meetings, my padi!
Many Nigerians have since been reacting to the development, with some lauding the French president for giving his Nigerian counterpart a warm welcome into France.
