THE Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to exercise some caution in his rapprochement with the Chinese government, explaining that every colonial master had always attached some strings to economic aids.
In a statement in Enugu Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, CNPP urged Jonathan to beware of Chinese quest for neo-colonialism in Africa.
The statement, which welcomed the increased rapprochement with China, added however, that exercising caution had become necessary now that President Barack Obama had not extended an olive branch to his administration.
CNPP added: "Jonathan should be cautious, less hasty or desperate in the rapprochement with the Chinese, especially now that President Barack Obama seems to have not extended olive branch to his regime.
"It is the candid view of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) that the history of colonialism has not changed and that every colonial master whether British, American or Chinese attach strings to aids and hence fuel her domestic economic growth."
The statement continued: "It is pertinent that our foreign policy objective should be structured for the long-term and not short- term goals, while we remain introspective in the utilisation of our natural resources.
"For the avoidance of doubt, some are celebrating the tremendous rise of China-Nigeria bilateral trade relations from $2 billion in 2002 to $13 billion in 2012; forgetting that Chinese cheap and fake products not only dominate the trade but stifle our local industries."
Recalling the speech of President Jonathan where he explained that Chinese had been instrumental to supporting Nigeria with financial support and investments, CNPP said that the Chinese had not been transparent.
CNPP said: "In 2006, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, then president, awarded the narrow gauge 1,315 km Kano-Lagos Rail Track to China Civil Engineering Corporation (CCEC) at a whopping cost of $8.3 billion, while the Chinese awarded 4,000km Beijing-Lhasa modern gauge to the Canadians and Germans at $4.2 billion.
"In March 2006, Abuja Fast Rail was awarded to Guandong Xinguang International Group at $2.5 billion. ZTE was awarded in 2007 $750 million CCTV project for major cities in the country to curb insecurity."
According to it, "dealing with the Chinese neo-colonialism, we must look before we leap for not only was the projects awarded at prohibitive cost, but none has been completed."
The Guardian