Former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has said the federal government’s close alliance with the United States, the United Kingdom, and other super powers in the West is harmful to Nigeria.
The former minister said the partnership that Nigeria is enjoying with its former colonial masters, the UK, and their allies is indirectly hampering its relationship with Russia.
Fani-Kayode said this while speaking on the significance of the visit that he and his colleagues and some of his colleagues to the Russian ambassador in Nigeria during a recent interview with Arise TV.
“Nigerian government has been excessively close to the United States of America, and the United Kingdom, and that in itself, in my opinion, has its own baggage,” Fani-Kayode said.
He said the United States, during the administration of former President Barack Obama failed to sell weapons to Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists, and its allies followed suit, saying Russia would not have done that.
“During the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the US led by Barack Obama said categorically that they would not sell arms to us to fight Boko Haram. By that time Boko Haram was taking over probably half of the North East zone of Nigeria.
“They went on to say no country close to them like Israel should sell to us. And, we resorted to buying arms from the black market… Russia was not in the equation at all. We were not looking in their (Russia) direction because of the alliance (with the West). Our allies, our life-long partners, our former colonial masters completely betrayed us,” he said.
Last week, Fani-Kayode led a delegation of prominent Nigerian leaders, including the immediate-past Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami; Senator Mohammed Hassan; Senator Bashir Lado; Hon. Farouk Adamu Aliyu; Dr. Joseph Onoh, and others on a condolence visit to the Russian Embassy in Abuja.
The solidarity visit was to commiserate with President Vladimir Putin and the Russian people on the terrorist attack which took place in Moscow last week and which resulted in the cold-blooded murder of 140 innocent and defenceless Russian civilians.
Speaking about the visit during the interview, Fani-Kayode said, “We are constrained by our faith and humanity to express our concerns and condolences primarily for those who lost their loved ones. It is very important.”
