The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), has advised the Federal Government to review its economic relations with China, to guard against “Chinese neo-colonialism”.
The advice is contained in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the CNPP, Mr Osita Okechukwu, in Abuja on Monday.
“We welcome President Goodluck Jonathan’s increased rapprochement with China, we must, however, beware of Chinese quest for neo-colonialism in Africa,” the statement said.
NAN recalls that Jonathan was on a state visit to China last week.
According to the CNPP, the history of colonialism has not changed and every colonial master whether British, American or Chinese attach strings to aids to fuel its domestic economic growth.
“The president should be cautious, less hasty or desperate in the rapprochement with the Chinese, especially now that President Barrack Obama seems not to have extended olive branch to his regime.”
Okechukwu, however, called for the restructuring of Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives for the long and short term goals, while Nigeria remained introspective in the utilisation of its natural resources.
“For the avoidance of doubt, some are celebrating the tremendous rise of China-Nigeria bilateral trade relations from two billion dollars in 2002 to 13 billion dollars in 2012.
“Forgetting that Chinese cheap and fake products not only dominate the trade but stifle our local industries.”
The statement said that in 2006, the Obasanjo administration awarded the narrow gauge of 1,315km Kano-Lagos rail track to the China Civil Engineering Corporation at a cost of 8.3 billion dollars.
He said the cost of the project was prohibitive and that since then, the project had not been completed. (NAN)