‘How Britain’s Exit From EU May Affect Nigeria’
By Debo Oladimeji
Nigerian Guardian
25 June 2016 | 7:24 am
Nigeria’s Former Minister of External Affairs Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi and former Director General of Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Bola Akinterinwa have aired their views on the outcome of the Brexit vote in Britain yesterday.
Britain in a 48.11 percent (remain) vote to 51.89 per cent (leave) decided to quit European Union (EU) on Thursday.
Akinyemi in a telephone interview with The Guardian said that obviously Britain is going to be looking for alternatives to fall on after leaving the EU.
“They are going to try to re- strategize their role in the Commonwealth. On the negative it may end up energizing self-determination groups in several Commonwealth countries,” he said.
According to him it is too early in the day to say whether it will affect the inflow of aids to Nigeria and former colonies of Britain or not.
“I cannot tell whether it will reduce aids or not. But Britain will have to look for funds to replace inflow of funds from EU.”
Akinterinwa said that in terms of immigration, there is going to be some special implication for Nigeria.
He said that all the countries colonized by Britain are all independent.
“In this case they can only be affected positively or negatively within the framework of the Commonwealth.”
According to him, since Britain gives development aid to many of its former colonies, it derives some strength from EU.
“Now such assistance may be cancelled or reduced.
“If you look at it from the multilateral framework. Many of the former colonial countries have reached an understanding with the EU. Framework of economic partnership agreement.
He said that the withdrawal has the potential to affect the agreements.
“The Brexit is an issue that raises many questions at the level of international relations. It is not just the vote. It raises the issue particularly the rivalry between national sovereignty and supra national sovereignty.”
He added that Nigeria as a member of Commonwealth or ECOWAS or African Union has agreement with EU and Britain, there is no way it would not affect us.
“One lesson that Nigeria must draw is that when we are talking about national unity and people are fighting for self- determination, it is for the government to organise a referendum on self- determination. It will be a better approach than the use of force.”
Nigerian Guardian
25 June 2016 | 7:24 am
Nigeria’s Former Minister of External Affairs Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi and former Director General of Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Bola Akinterinwa have aired their views on the outcome of the Brexit vote in Britain yesterday.
Britain in a 48.11 percent (remain) vote to 51.89 per cent (leave) decided to quit European Union (EU) on Thursday.
Akinyemi in a telephone interview with The Guardian said that obviously Britain is going to be looking for alternatives to fall on after leaving the EU.
“They are going to try to re- strategize their role in the Commonwealth. On the negative it may end up energizing self-determination groups in several Commonwealth countries,” he said.
According to him it is too early in the day to say whether it will affect the inflow of aids to Nigeria and former colonies of Britain or not.
“I cannot tell whether it will reduce aids or not. But Britain will have to look for funds to replace inflow of funds from EU.”
Akinterinwa said that in terms of immigration, there is going to be some special implication for Nigeria.
He said that all the countries colonized by Britain are all independent.
“In this case they can only be affected positively or negatively within the framework of the Commonwealth.”
According to him, since Britain gives development aid to many of its former colonies, it derives some strength from EU.
“Now such assistance may be cancelled or reduced.
“If you look at it from the multilateral framework. Many of the former colonial countries have reached an understanding with the EU. Framework of economic partnership agreement.
He said that the withdrawal has the potential to affect the agreements.
“The Brexit is an issue that raises many questions at the level of international relations. It is not just the vote. It raises the issue particularly the rivalry between national sovereignty and supra national sovereignty.”
He added that Nigeria as a member of Commonwealth or ECOWAS or African Union has agreement with EU and Britain, there is no way it would not affect us.
“One lesson that Nigeria must draw is that when we are talking about national unity and people are fighting for self- determination, it is for the government to organise a referendum on self- determination. It will be a better approach than the use of force.”
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