Onyeama Didn’t Say Republic Of Benin Is Aspiring To Be Part Of Nigeria –Ministry Of Foreign Affairs

By Daniel Dafe, Abraka
Ferdinand Nwonye, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja has debunked reports that quoted the Minster of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, as saying that The Republic of Benin wants to be the 37th state of Nigeria, saying it is a misleading report.

A statement signed by Nwonye said: “The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to misleading reports in the media that the Republic of Benin is aspiring to be the 37 State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

According to the statement, “the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama in the presence of his counterpart from the Republic of Benin granted a Press Interview after a very fruitful meeting between Ministerial delegations from both countries and stated therein “… the President of Benin Republic said he would like the relations between the two countries to be so close as if Benin was the 37th State of Nigeria”.

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“The Federal Republic of Nigeria has no territorial ambition and has never aspired to make Benin or any country as part of Nigeria.”

Nwonye said “the Minister of Foreign Affairs was therefore quoted out of context and the general public should kindly disregard the wrong information.”