Nigeria should align with Tukey on UN overhaul, join new world order – Prof Akinyemi

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has urged Nigeria to be actively involved in the formation of a new world order.

In a statement he released, Akinyemi said recent happenings which includes COVID-19, the Russian-Ukraine war and China’s rise as a super power has necessitated the formation of a new world order.

According to him, this gives Nigeria a great opportunity to align with other countries in the new force.

Itemising how Nigeria can work its way in, Akinyemi encouraged “ideas and acts backed by a military status” and “consultations with all the countries bordering the South Atlantic Ocean towards establishing the South Atlantic Treaty Organisation”.

“Circumstances in the world today are not usual. Covid 19, Omicron, now the Russian-Ukraine war, and the rise of China as a global super-power have created what amounts to a decline of the old world order and a scrambling for a new world order.

“I urge Nigeria to join in the search for a new world order by becoming an active participant. The view widely held is that Nigeria is not an active participant on the global scene because of a lack of domestic consensus among the domestic foreign policy elite. I will not subscribe to this. What is lacking is a focused dialogue by the elite. This is a situation that is easily rectified by a joint conference organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Institute of International Affairs and the office of the Chief of Staff to the President.

“Nigeria should now initiate consultations with all the countries bordering the South Atlantic Ocean towards establishing the South Atlantic Treaty Organisation to keep away all the superpowers in the New World Order.

“Nigeria should seek to table a detailed blue-print on the paradigm of a new world order to enhance participation by the medium-powers.

“Nigeria is not going to be a recognised player in the New World Order unless its ideas and acts are backed by a military status. Right now, Nigeria with a military budget of $2billion is ranked in terms of capability as 35th in the world with 223000 personnel. Pakistan on the other hand is ranked no. 10 with a budget of $10.3billion, 654,000 personnel, 2200 tanks, 582 aircraft. Nigeria knows what to do,” Akinyemi said.