A former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has urged “Nigeria to join in the search for a new world order by becoming an active participant.”

This was contained in a statement he issued, yesterday.

Calling for “focused dialogue” by the country’s elite and “a joint conference organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Institute of International Affairs and the office of the Chief of Staff to the President.” Akinyemi urged the nation to “initiate consultations with all the countries bordering the South Atlantic Ocean towards establishing the South Atlantic Treaty Organisation to keep away all the superpowers in the new world order.”

According to him, Nigeria “should seek to table a detailed blueprint on the paradigm of a new world order to enhance participation by medium powers. Nigeria is not going to be a recognised player in the new world order unless its ideas and acts are backed by a military status.”

He added: “Right now, Nigerian with a military budget of $2 billion is ranked in terms of capability as 35th in the world with 223,000 personnel. Pakistan, on the other hand, is ranked number 10 with a budget of $10.3 billion, 654,000 personnel, 2200 tanks and 582 aircraft. Nigeria knows what to do. ”