Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the proposed US military base in Nigeria. In an interview with Arise News, Akinyemi referenced a past incident where General Victor Malu informed General Olusegun Obasanjo that the Nigerian forces did not need the Americans.
Akinyemi emphasized the need for Nigeria to develop its own military capabilities, citing the country's past expenditures on security. He questioned the necessity of relying on foreign powers, particularly in the face of threats from groups like Wagner. Akinyemi's comments align with the growing opposition from Northern leaders and civil societies against the proposed US and French military bases in Nigeria, urging President Bola Tinubu to prioritize national sovereignty and security.
In his words;
"If we cannot set up our own assets in order to face down Wagner, then there's a problem. The amount of money that we've spent since the time of General Obasanjo. You remember his face off with the Ministry of Defense, with Malu letting him know that the Nigerian forces does not need the Americans"
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