Nigeria will lock heads with other superpower if we begin to entertain military bases – Bolaji Akinyemi

The planned construction of US and French military bases in Nigeria has been opposed by Bolaji Akinyemi, the former minister of foreign affairs, who claimed that such a move may put Nigeria in conflict with another superpower.

Akinyemi mentioned this in an interview with Arise Television on Tuesday.

He asserts that “the last thing that Nigeria wants” is for the United States to create a military installation there.

The former Foreign Affairs Minister continued, saying that this would make Nigeria’s issues worse.

He said, “I am shocked about this development and I hope it is not true. We have a long history about attempts at installing a military base in Nigeria.This would not be the first time that there would be an attempt to have a 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 in Counterpoise to another superpower because in a way, Russia moving into Niger, into Mali, into Burkina faso, the United States moving into Nigeria brings us right into confrontation with each other and that’s the last thing we want.

“I know that we have problems with the jihadists, with ISIS, we have security problems but the solution is not for us to be in confrontation with another superpower. We will maximise our problems. Therefore I hope it is not true.”

Akinyemi said France and the United States have not been beneficial in the Sahel, adding that, otherwise, countries like Chad and Niger would not have asked the United States to withdraw their troops from their country.

He said, “If the presence of France and the United States have been beneficial in the Sahel, those countries would not be asking them to leave. Obviously, they have not found it beneficial, that’s number one.

“Number two, all you’ve done is to bring the jihadists and ISIS, and the East-West, to bring them further down towards Nigeria. Right now, Mali and the other countries have been a buffer between us and ISIS. Now that you would be removing the United States and what have you, you’ve brought them right into the border with Nigeria.”

On whether a rejection of the military base establishment proposal by Nigeria will affect its diplomatic relationship with the United States, Akinyemi said, “This is not the first time that Nigeria and the United States would have a conversation on this issue of having a military base.

“There was a time when the United States raised this issue of having a West African base for the United States and several West African countries were consulted and at the end of the day, Nigeria turned down the proposal.

“The interest of Nigeria is not the only country that is going to be affected if we decide to have an American base in Nigeria. Nigeria and the United States have a broad based interest that overrides just having a military base.”

Akinyemi said, “Afterall, when we turned down the British base in 1960, our relationship did not come crashing down. It continued. We will simply reformat our relationship.”

“Don’t let us export our problems. I know we have problems within the Nigerian armed forces, let us sort that out. Let’s not sort it out by bringing the americans. You bring in the Americans, you bring them in with their own problems. We shouldn’t do that.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has said it is not considering establishing any foreign military base in Nigeria.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement on Monday, described as “false” reports in certain quarters that the Nigerian government is considering siting such military bases in the country.