By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
The Federal Government of Nigeria has said it has no intention to allow any American military base in Nigeria amidst persistent insinuation.
Human rights groups and regional leaders have accused the Nigerian authority of planning to host a military base in Nigeria.
The US and France were booted out of Niger and Mali by their new revolutionary leaders.
There were speculations that the US in particular was flirting with Nigerian top officials to secure a military base in Africa’s most populous country.
Given in gathering momentum of opposition, it was expected that the Nigerian Government would deny even if such idea was in the pipeline. Coming at a time of public resentment against the US role in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, the Nigerian progressive forces have startes building a national resistance front to counter any idea that may suggest the US military presence in Nigeria.
Opposition began to increase at the weekend following the mooted idea.
The Nigerian Government in a statement on Monday signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation
Mohammed Idris said the Government was not anticipating US military presence in Nigeria.
Nigerian radical left, progressive forces have risen against such a proposal saying Nigeria should not become an institutionalise stooge of US imperialism.
Idris said the FG 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.
He said “We urge the general public to totally disregard this falsehood.”
He said 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 the Nigerian government already enjoys foreign cooperation in tackling ongoing security challenges, and the President (Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu) remains committed to deepening these partnerships, with the goal of achieving the national security objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
It is unclear to Irohinoodua whether the position of the Federal Government was a sign of panic withdrawal from such a policy or that the idea was truly a false flag.
What is clear is that some independence in 1960, Britain and the US have scrambled to have a military foothold in Nigerian soil hoping it would provide a launchpad of incursion into an extended influence in Africa.