Northern group faults Tinubu’s military, mineral deals with France
By Saxone Akhaine, Kaduna
A northern group, under the auspices of the Northern Star Youth Empowerment Initiative (NSYEI), has kicked against the seeming close romance between France and the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
The group frowned upon the bilateral agreements signed by the president with the Government of France during his recent official visit to the country.
In a statement issued in Kaduna on Wednesday, the Director General of the NSYEI, Dr Abdullahi Idris, recalled that during his recent state visit to France, President Tinubu signed many bilateral agreements with the President of France, including military cooperation and exploitation of Nigeria’s mineral resources by France.
Idris said: “At the moment, our people in the north live in apprehension of the possible setting up of French military bases in the north and the exacerbation of the insecurity that has already ravaged the region, going by the antecedents of France, which has been kicked out of almost all its former colonies in Africa, including our neighbours Niger, Chad, Mali, and Burkina Faso. Why is Nigeria now inviting them?”
He therefore called on the federal government to be transparent about the kind of deals it signed with France and the benefits “they will bring to Nigeria in order to allay the fears and apprehensions of the people of the North, who are likely to be the victims of France’s traditional misadventure in Africa.”
“Wishing our brothers and sisters a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May all that is peaceful, meaningful, and brings joy be ours this holiday season and throughout the coming year,” he added.
GUARDIAN Newspapers