Why Nigeria Should Dump Commonwealth Of Nations — Bolaji Akinyemi

Related stories

China Snubs U.S. Crude for Third Month, Even as Ethane Trade Restarts

China has avoided buying U.S. crude oil for three...

Super Eagles Icon Peter Rufai Passes Away at 61

By Abiola Olawale The Nigerian football community has been thrown...

Dakuku Peterside’s Beneath the Surface Book Out in October

By Abiola Olawale Masobe Books, a renowned publisher has announced...

Oil Prices Dip on Confirmation of Inventory Build

Crude oil prices opened weaker today following Wednesday’s release...

Buhari In Stable Condition – Ex-Aide Confirms

By Abiola Olawale Ahmed Bashir, ex-aide to the immediate past...
  • Says Union ‘A Footstool Of Britain’

By Abiola Olawale (The New Diplomat’s Southwest Bureau)

Nigeria’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi has called for the exit of Nigeria from the Commonwealth of Nations, a political association of 54 member states, stating that the association is of no benefit to Nigeria again.

Akinyemi who was speaking at an interview on ‘thruMY eyes’, an online programme that runs commentary on various international events, monitored by The New Diplomat, said Britain is the only member state benefitting from the policies of the union, describing the Commonwealth has a footstool of Britain.

Recall that the Commonwealth is a union mostly made up of countries which are former colonies of the British Empire.

Akinyemi argued that Nigerians and several other third world member countries are being deprived of the benefits of the association, adding that Commonwealth only portrays Britian as a world power.

Akinyemi, who was also a former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), called on to the authorities of the Commonwealth to make policies that will benefit all its member states.

According to him, the call for global civilisation is a right step in the right direction, which will position the Commonwealth to push global values that will address racism, nepotism among others issues affecting the third world countries.

The elder-statesman also urged the British Government on the need to be unbiased regarding the political appointments of the union, adding that appointments shouldn’t be made based on skin color.

In his words, “Obviously, there is no association without benefits, however it is the percentage of the benefits that matters. You draw attention to the training skills which Commonwealth offers our (Nigerian) scholars. However, it is more than this. The issue we need to address is the role of Britain in not addressing the issues concerning Nigeria and Africa at large. I am speaking from a political point of view. All my political experiences, I see the Commonwealth as a window dresser that is used to protray Britain as the World Power. When it comes to political issues, Commonwealth would rather listen to the United States than the other members countries.

“In my experience as a scholar and former Minister, I have never seen Commonwealth committed to making policies that benefits all its members countries other than Britain. I am actually open to a view that can persuade me that there are substantive benefits the members countries like Nigeria, among other black countries are enjoying under the Commonwealth. We all have to need to come together to form a cultural civilisation, which will position the Commonwealth to push the global values in the interest of all member states. However, we have to go beyond words, I would like to see actions taken. I want to see policies that will benefit all member states, so that the world will stop seeing the Commonwealth as a footstool of Britain.”

'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide's journalism works intersect business, environment, politics and developmental issues. Among a number of local and international publications, his work has appeared in the New York Times. He's a winner of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Award. Currently, the Online Editor at The New Diplomat, Akintomide has produced reports that uniquely spoke to Nigeria's experience on Climate Change issues. When Akintomide is not writing, volunteering or working on a media project, you can find him seeing beautiful sites like the sandy beaches that bedecked the Lagos coastline.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
China Snubs U.S. Crude for Third Month, Even as Ethane Trade RestartsSuper Eagles Icon Peter Rufai Passes Away at 61Dakuku Peterside’s Beneath the Surface Book Out in OctoberOil Prices Dip on Confirmation of Inventory BuildBuhari In Stable Condition - Ex-Aide ConfirmsBREAKING: Ex-President Buhari sick, hospitalised abroad2027: Abure, Usman Clash Over Peter Obi’s Rising Profile in ADC CoalitionMTN’s Dabengwa Tier III Cloud Data Centre: A New Era for West African Tech and AIGanduje: Why are they resigning?OPEC Reports a Global Oil Production Decline in 2024IMF Warns FG to Overhaul 2025 Budget to Prevent Economic Meltdown2027: Peter Obi Vows, Says ADC Coalition 'll prioritize Nigerians’ WelfareTragedy! Liverpool Star Diogo Jota Dies in Car Crash in SpainFamily Announces Burial Date of Ex-Kwara Governor, Cornelius AdebayoSex Scandal: Baltasar Engonga, Ex-Equatorial Guinea Anti-Corruption Boss Bags 18 Years
X whatsapp