‘They Can’t Mess With Us’ – Ex-Lawmaker Reacts to Detained NAF Aircraft, Charges Tinubu

Ayodele Arise, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a former senator from Ekiti North, has urged President Bola Tinubu to think about using force in Burkina Faso to free the 11 Nigerian troops who are being held there.

Although Nigeria’s military is overburdened with internal security operations, Arise stated on Arise TV on Saturday that a daring move might put pressure on the Burkinabe regime to free the troops.

Arise claimed that history has demonstrated the efficacy of swift military action in such circumstances, citing Israel’s 1976 Entebbe Raid in Uganda.

“I think we should move and do something,” he declared. In fact, since they are our neighbors, I am confident that the individual in charge there will reconsider once they learn that we wish to do that.

“Yes, we should be cordial with our neighbors, but we also need to make it clear that they are not allowed to interfere with our nation.”

Additionally, Arise supported Nigeria’s military response to the recent coup attempt in the Republic of Benin, arguing that President Tinubu acted rationally even before publicly informing the National Assembly.

He refuted claims that the President had violated constitutional procedures, claiming that choices pertaining to national security occasionally call for quick action.

His remarks were made the day after Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, declared that the 11 Nigerian military members were still being held in Burkina Faso.

Tuggar stated that diplomatic attempts were being made to find a solution while speaking at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja.

“We’re talking about how we can get this delicate issue resolved as soon as possible. Thus, it’s being addressed diplomatically,” the minister stated.

Additionally, he made it clear that the Nigerian Air Force C-130 plane that touched down at Bobo Dioulasso, in southwest Burkina Faso, had nothing to do with the Benin Republic coup.

However, the troops were arrested after Burkina Faso’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Emile Zerbo, claimed the aircraft had failed to secure the necessary approval and had breached national airspace restrictions.

Arise commented on recent Senate screenings of ambassadorial nominees in addition to regional security, criticizing the practice of letting candidates “take a bow and go” without thorough questioning.

“There are two ways to look at that,” he remarked. Either the senators have read the candidates’ biographies, resumes, accomplishments, and contributions to the advancement of the country, or the president and the security services have done an excellent job of investigating the contenders.

Being a senator does not guarantee that you are an expert on everything, so it is a learning process. Thus, there is no longer a chance to educate senators generally, engage the public, or provide information about their professions.

However, a lot of us will prefer that the Senate pose inquiries. Since Mr. President cannot personally know every nominee, let them defend their nomination. He will rely on the security report and the recommendations from his coworkers.