US military base proposal in Nigeria could cause confrontation with other African countries – Akinyemi

The Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi has said, United States proposed military base move will brings Nigeria into a confrontation with other African countries

Akinyemi while speaking on Arise television show on Monday, also expressed hope that the development is not true adding that Nigeria have a long history of attempting to install military base around it.

He said: “You will recall no you won’t recall. You are too young. At the time of our independence, there was this attempt by the British to install a military base in Nigeria. It was raised in the Parliament.”

“Students from University of Ibadan came on a march and there was a brouhaha and finally, they killed that project. Therefore, this will not be the first time that there will be an attempt to have a military base in Nigeria.”

“This should not be the first time that there would an attempt to have military base in Nigeria, if it is true that there is such an attempt.”

“The last thing Nigeria wants is to have a military base by a superpower counterpoise to another superpower because in a way Russia is moving in to Niger Mali and Burkina Faso.”

“The United States moving into Nigeria will brings us actually right into confrontation with each other and that’s the last thing we want.”

“I know that we have problems with the jihadists and the ISIS. We have security problems. Yes. But the solution is not for us to be confrontation with another superpower. It will simply maximise our problems. Therefore I hope it is not true.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has said that it has not received any proposal for the establishment of a foreign military base in the country.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement in Abuja said an alarm raised in some quarters on the purported plan was “baseless and unfounded”.

“The Federal Government is aware of false alarms being raised in some quarters alleging discussions between the Federal Government of Nigeria, and some foreign countries on the siting of foreign military bases in the country.

“We urge the general public to totally disregard this falsehood.

“The Federal Government is not in any such discussion with any foreign country.

“We have neither received nor are we considering any proposals from any country on the establishment of any foreign military bases in Nigeria,” Idris said.

According to the Minister, the Federal Government already enjoys foreign cooperation in tackling ongoing security challenges in the country.

“President Bola Tinubu remains committed to deepening these partnerships, with the goal of achieving the national security objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.