Ribadu: No Foreign Military Base in Nigeria, We Even Refused US Request

*Fires back at Niger’s military junta, says Nigeria will maintain diplomatic relations with France, Russia, UK, US, others

*ECOWAS: Niger’s allegation unfounded 

*Desperate politicians fueling crisis between both countries, northern group declares

Chuks Okocha, Michael Olugbode, Linus Aleke in Abuja and Sunday Ehigiator in Lagos

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu yesterday stressed that there was no foreign military base in Nigeria, pointing out that the country had recently refused an attempt by the United States to set up a base (AFRICOM) within its borders.

He also said Nigeria would not sever its diplomatic ties with France over the Republic of Niger’s internal squabble with its erstwhile colonial master, adding that the country would also maintain diplomatic relations with Russia, the US, United Kingdom, China, and other countries in the world.
Weighing in on the matter, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) rubbished the claim by the Nigerien military junta that Nigeria and some other countries were sponsoring destabilisation of Niger, insisting that it was unfounded.

Also, a northern group, the Arewa Think Tank (ATT) accused desperate politicians in the country of being behind the allegations by the military leader of Niger Republic.
The Niger Military Leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani recently accused Nigerian authorities of colluding with France to destabilise his country.

Nigeria had in 2009, under late President Umaru Yar’Adua refused plans to host the U.S. African military command (AFRICOM) on the continent and recently when the U.S. had issues with Niger they tried to relocate the military command to Nigeria which was again refused.
Speaking during an interview with BBC Hausa Service yesterday, Ribadu said the allegation by Tchiani was not only baseless, but totally unfounded.
He averred that Nigeria’s relationship with France was based on economic cooperation, not military collaboration.

Ribadu said Niger and Nigeria ought to join forces to deal with Lakurawa which has constituted security problems for both countries.
According to Ribadu, “There is no doubt that the President of Niger knows Nigeria very well, but I want you, as journalists, to go to the places he mentioned and see for yourself, or ask the residents of the places if there are any foreigners, let alone soldiers from other countries.

“The leaders of the military regime in Niger should understand that we, Nigeria, are not a problem for them.
“These terrorists, whom we are fighting, are our problem. We should confront them together.”
Ribadu said Nigeria would continue to work with the Niger Republic, “because the two countries and their peoples are brothers”, adding that both should unite for the development of their respective societies.
The NSA pointed out that while Niger’s leadership may have issues with France, it was unreasonable to expect Nigeria to sever ties with France over her internal disputes.

According to Ribadu, “General Tchiani’s statement was both surprising and disturbing. The allegations are baseless and entirely unfounded. Nigeria has no intention of sabotaging or destabilising Niger.
“We have always maintained peaceful relations with our neighbors, including Cameroon, Benin Republic, and Chad.

“Why would we suddenly have a reason to be in conflict with Niger? It simply doesn’t make sense.
“This allegation is completely untrue. Nigeria has no history of hosting foreign military bases.
“Even the United Kingdom, our former colonizer, has never attempted to establish a base here.
“Nigeria firmly resisted an attempt by the United States to set up a base (AFRICOM) within our borders.
“On the contrary, Niger had hosted such bases, including one established by the United States which they recently expelled.

“France has military agreements with its former colonies, but Nigeria has never been part of such arrangements.
“The claim that France is using Nigerian territory to launch an attack on Niger is both implausible and baseless. It will not happen. How could it even happen?

“Moreover, Nigeria’s relationship with France is based on economic cooperation, not military collaboration.”
Speaking further, the NSA said: “While Niger’s leadership may have issues with France, it is unreasonable to expect Nigeria to sever ties with France over Niger’s internal disputes.
“The military leader also mentioned specific locations in Nigeria, which reflects his familiarity with the terrain. However, I urge journalists and the public to verify if there are any new foreign settlers, let alone French nationals, in these areas. Nigeria has no intention or reason to destabilise Niger.”
Urging Niger’s leadership to reconsider its stance, the NSA said severing ties with France and aligning with other powers would likely bring more difficulties.

“We had previously warned them about hosting a U.S. base, but they didn’t listen and later regretted it. As a brotherly nation, we continue to advise Niger to focus on cooperation and mutual stability,” he said.
Meanwhile, ECOWAS has rubbished the claim by the Nigerien military junta that Nigeria and some other countries were sponsoring destabilisation of Niger, insisting that it was unfounded.
The statement by the regional bloc read: “ECOWAS expresses deep concern over the allegations being made against Nigeria and other ECOWAS member states.
“The Commission stands firmly with Nigeria and other ECOWAS member states against allegations that they are sponsoring terrorism.

“For years, Nigeria has supported peace and security of several countries not only in the West African subregion but also on the African continent. The recent successes recorded by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which Nigeria leads, demonstrates the country’s commitment to peace and security across the region.
“ECOWAS therefore refutes any suggestion that such a generous and magnanimous country would become a state-sponsor of terrorism.

“ECOWAS calls on all states in the region to promote dialogue and stability and refrain from making accusations that are not supported by any evidence.”
In the meantime, the ATT has accused desperate politicians in the country of being behind the allegations by the military leader of Niger Republic.
In a statement yesterday, by the Convener of ATT, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, the group said the claims were the imagination and calculated moves by desperate politicians to frustrate President Bola Tinubu from giving Nigerians the much-needed dividends of democracy.

It argued that Nigeria has never engaged in any overt or covert alliance with France or any other country to sponsor terrorist attacks or destabilise the Niger Republic in the wake of the undemocratic change in the leadership of that country.
The statement read: “We are therefore warning desperate politicians not to mismanage our relationship with the Niger Republic and cause acrimony between the two neighbouring countries.

“Nigeria has a history of living peacefully with the world, not to talk of living peacefully with its neighbours. The election has come and gone; it is time for governance. Politicians should wait until the whistle is blown for another election before they start doing what they want to do for the electioneering campaign.
“For now, we want peace in the country so that we can enjoy the dividends of democracy. These desperate politicians should allow President Tinubu to govern well. If they have issues with him, they should meet him for an amicable settlement, but not to rock the boat. They should not show their desperation to destabilise the country because there must be a country before anybody can govern.”

According to him, “desperate politicians should not collaborate with foreign enemies to destroy this great country. They have been trying to destroy this great country for a long time. We won’t allow them to do it. By God’s grace they will not succeed, Tinubu will succeed.
“Arewa Think Tank strongly rejects allegations made in a viral video by the military leader of Niger Republic, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, claiming non-existent collusion between Nigeria and France to destabilise his country.

“These claims exist solely in the realm of imagination, as Nigeria has never engaged in any overt or covert alliance with France – or any other country – to sponsor terrorist attacks or destabilise the Niger Republic in the wake of the undemocratic change in the leadership of that country.
“It is on record that President Tinubu as Chairman of ECOWAS, has demonstrated exemplary leadership, keeping the doors of the sub-regional body open to re-engaging the Niger Republic despite the political situation in the country.

“We believe that Nigeria remains committed to fostering peace, harmony, and historic diplomatic ties with Niger.”
It insisted that, “the accusation that Nigeria seeks to sabotage Niger’s pipelines and agriculture was both unfounded and counterproductive,” adding that, “Nigeria has consistently supported Niger’s economic development through joint energy and infrastructure projects, such as the Trans -Saharan Gas Pipeline and the Kano-Maradi Railway Project.

“It is illogical to suggest that Nigeria would undermine initiatives it has actively promoted.
“We also see it as the handiwork of desperate politicians. The claims about the alleged establishment of a so-called Lakurawa terrorist headquarters in Sokoto State, purportedly orchestrated by Nigeria in collaboration with France, are baseless. Nigeria has been a regional leader in combating terrorism, dedicating significant resources and lives to ensure stability in the Lake Chad Basin and beyond.”

However, the League of Northern Democrats (LND) said the federal government’s response to the accusations by Niger’s military leader, at was not good enough as it only raises more questions.
The League in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Ladan Salihu said the response of the federal government through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris did not address and some of the questions posed by the Nigeriern leader.

The spokesman of the league of northern Democratic said, ”A critical analysis of the government’s denial and its supporting arguments reveals significant gaps in logic and veracity.”
The northern political pressure group said, “the government categorically denies colluding with France to destabilise Niger. However, France’s track record in Africa – supporting insurgencies and covert operations to secure resources – casts doubt on this outright dismissal.”

Ladan Salihu said that the assertion that Tinubu had demonstrated exemplary leadership as ECOWAS Chairman was contradicted by the deepening tensions among ECOWAS member states where five states had severed ties with France leading to three states leaving the regional body.