The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama has debunked the widely circulating news that Benin Republic was “ready to become Nigeria’s 37th State”.
OYOGist.com recalls that earlier reports that were widely circulated in the press and on social media quoted the Minister saying that the West African country bordering Nigeria on the West was ready to become part of Nigeria.
This report fascinated a lot of Nigerians and intrigued a lot of interesting conversations.
However, in reacting to the widespread news, the spokesperson for the ministry, Mr Ferdinand Nwonye debunked the report.
“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 37th Statw of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama, in the presence of his counterpart from the Republic of Benin granted a Press Interview after a very fruit 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’.
“The Federal Republic of Nigeria has no territorial ambition and has never aspired to make Benin or any country as part of Nigeria.
“The Minister of Foreign Affairs was therefore quoted out of context and the general public should kindly disregard the wring information,” the statement read.
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