Iran Press/Africa: A group of Northern Nigerian leaders, which includes former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Attahiru Jega, Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, and spokesperson Professor Jibrin Ibrahim, penned a letter to President Tinubu warning against allowing American or French military presence in Nigeria.
In an exclusive interview with Iran Press in Abuja, Professor Jibrin Ibrahim emphasized the dangers posed by having American or French troops stationed in Nigeria. He expressed concerns about the sovereignty of the country and highlighted the geopolitical implications of such a move.
"We believe that allowing American and French military bases in Nigeria would not benefit our country. With Russia expanding its presence in neighboring Niger, we risk being dragged into conflicts that are not in our interest. Nigeria has always maintained a non-aligned stance since 1962, and we intend to uphold that position," Professor Ibrahim stated.
The Northern Nigerian elders group urged President Tinubu and the National Assembly to halt any negotiations with America and France that could lead to the deployment of foreign troops on Nigerian soil. They cited examples from neighboring countries where military bases operated without transparency or respect for national sovereignty.
"We must defend and protect the sovereignty of Nigeria at all costs. Allowing foreign military bases on our land poses a direct challenge to our independence as a nation," Professor Ibrahim concluded. 204
