Some eminent leaders and civil society organizations cautioned President Bola Tinubu against allowing the United States and French governments to relocate their military bases from the Sahel to Nigeria in an open letter to Tinubu and the National Assembly.
Signatories of the letter included Prof Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, Prof Kabiru Sulaiman Chafe, Prof Attahiru Jega, Prof Jibrin Ibrahim, Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani), and Y. Z. Ya’u.
The letter highlighted alleged aggressive lobbying by the American and French governments to sign new defense pacts, emphasizing Nigeria’s strategic importance among the Gulf of Guinea countries.
It expressed concerns that signing such pacts could compromise Nigeria’s sovereignty and internal security, citing past experiences with foreign military agreements.
The letter recounted historical instances where Nigeria resisted foreign military alliances, stressing the need to prioritize Nigeria’s long-term peace and security over short-term strategic considerations.
It warned of potential economic, environmental, and social consequences of hosting foreign military bases, urging Nigeria’s leadership to prioritize caution, diplomacy, and strategic independence in decision-making.
The signatories urged Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly to consider the broader implications of such agreements and to safeguard Nigeria’s sovereignty and national interests.