Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, yesterday, hailed Nigeria’s continuing support for the admittance of the Palestine as a member of the United Nations (UN) and said it was justified to do so. Palestine is currently on observer status at the UN.
Akinyemi, who was Minister of Foreign Affairs when in 1984 Nigeria officially recognised the state of Palestine, told LEADERSHIP that support by President Goodluck Jonathan for admitting the Islamic state into the UN was not only justified but in line with international resolutions of the UN.
According to the professor, diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Palestine date back to many decades, just as he noted that Palestine had also at many occasion through the Palestine Liberation Movement (PLO) supported many African liberation struggles, including the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa.
He said, “Nigeria and Palestine have always had good relations, especially through the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). The state of Palestine has always supported Nigeria and has also supported several liberation movements in Africa, like the anti- apartheid struggles. So it is only justified that we back the inclusion of such a state in the UN.
“Beyond these, we seem to quickly lose sight of the fact that the state of Palestine was duly created in 1947 by a UN resolution, and it was the same resolution that led to the creation of the state of Israel. So, both are legal states and have a right to exist independently. The issue here is does Nigeria stand to lose anything by supporting Palestine’s move to join the UN; the answer for me is no.
“Don’t forget that Arafat addressed the UN. What they are simply asking for is to be allowed to become a member of the UN. I believe there is no impediment of any kind. Nigeria will lose nothing by supporting her, and as for our relations with the state of Israel, we can still friends with Israel despite support for Palestine”