Former Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has emphasized that Nigeria should strive to build economic and military power to a level where no African country can defeat it. Akinyemi made this statement in reaction to the US invasion of Venezuela and the capture of its President, Nicolas Maduro, describing the act as a violation of international law and a threat to global peace.
Akinyemi stressed that Nigeria’s ambition should not be to dominate other African states but to build sufficient strength to avoid being overpowered. He cited the example of Nigeria’s intervention in Benin Republic, where the power disparity made it impossible for Benin to resist. Akinyemi warned that the world is dangerously close to a major conflict and urged Nigeria to focus on building its economic and military capacity to command respect among nations.
The former minister also criticized the United Nations, saying its structure was designed to shield superpowers from accountability, and accused Western leaders of failing to speak forcefully against the US due to dependency and geopolitical interests.
Akinyemi’s remarks come as the world grapples with the implications of the US action in Venezuela, with some leaders questioning the legality of the invasion and others calling for a rethink of global power dynamics.
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