A professor of political science, Jibril Ibrahim, has explained reasons why establishing foreign military bases would be detrimental to Nigeria.
Recall that some eminent northern leaders have kicked against the establishment of French and American military bases in Nigeria.
The elders alleged that the two countries have been lobbying the government to establish bases in Nigeria following their forced exit from neighbouring Francophone West African neighbours Niger Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
But the minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed the claim.
Speaking during an interview on Channels TV on Monday, Mr Ibrahim said Nigeria will be “setting itself up for battle” with Russia, which now has a military presence in the Niger Republic, following the expulsion of French and American forces by the junta.
He said, “Absolutely, it’s dangerous. Even within Nigeria itself, there is a very high-level of terrorism ongoing in the north east, north west, north central, and other parts of the country.
“We had a difficult relationship with our neighbours recently, including Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.
“The third thing we know is that these countries, when they sent the Westerners packing, they set up a new deal with Russia. Russian advisors and trainers are coming into to their countries.
“Now we will leave our traditional foreign policy position since 1962, that has been non-alignment. Since 1962, Nigeria has neither been for the West or the East. We will pursue our interests with all the parties.
“But from the moment a foreign military base is allowed, you are no longer non-aligned. You are directly with one camp.
“So we are setting ourselves up for a battle with 1600-kilometer border with Niger Republic and Russian soldiers in Niger.
“Why are we bringing American soldiers to fight a war that is not ours. I think there is a much larger issue of concern for some of us. Nigerians are very proud of their sovereignty.
“We were looking down upon Francophone countries who were being controlled by their former colonial masters. We never allowed the United Kingdom to do that to us. Is it now after 60 years of independence that we will lose some of our sovereignty to a foreign power that is bringing nothing in return?”
Mr Ibrahim, who is also a senior fellow at the Centre for Democracy and Development, argued that the presence of French and American military bases in Nigeria won’t help the fight against terrorism in any way as claimed by some proponents of the move.
He said, “The French were in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger for 12 years. During that period, terrorism grew, it became completely out of control, arms to terrorists continued to flow, and they [insurgents] were controlling more and more territories.
“So, this argument that it (the French presence) will help resolve the problem of terrorism—why haven’t they done that in all the other countries where they have gone to (offer) so-called help on terrorism? We know empirically that it’s a false claim that they will help in the fight against terrorism.”
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