Following a meeting with President-Elect Buhari yesterday, Republic of Benin's President, Mr. Thomas Boni Yayi said, "‎Benin is the 37th state of Nigeria, and 55 percent of population in Benin comes from Nigeria, you know I am at home here." (See: https://www.nairaland.com/2315626/benin-republic-nigerias-37th-state#33757625)

It got me thinking that a forward-looking government in Nigeria could consider acquiring Republic of Benin!

Yeah, yeah, what has Nigeria done with its population of 170 million that an additional 10 million would hold out any benefit? Answer: I did say "forward-looking", so the benefits will be in the future. In international land matters and demographics economics, more is supremely better than less.

Referencing the experience of the US, there are at least 5 options open to Nigeria:

(1) Negotiate a purchase like some US territorial acquisitions >> A somewhat fair price is negotiated and paid, but the buying country usually has the power in negotiation
- Alaska bought from Russia for $7.2 million in 1867 (equivalent to $121 million in present day terms)
- Puerto Rico+Guam+The Philippines bought from Spain for $20 million in 1898 (equivalent to $567 million in present day terms)
- Louisiana bought from France for $15 million in 1803 (equivalent to $236 million in present day terms)


(2) Open Ended Lease. . .for pittance >> Basically exercise ownership rights on the land for nothing; keep your military base close just in case
- Guantánamo Bay leased from Cuba in 1901 for $2,000 in U.S. gold coins per year, renegotiated in 1934 to $4,085/year


(3) Direct Annexation. . .because you are bigger >> Here, you are "chancing" the smaller country and taking its land
- Texas annexation in 1845 (Crimea moves)


(4) Indirect Annexation. . .have someone else do the dirty job >> Give some time for the dust to settle, then absorb the proxy government
- A group of businessmen funded a coup that overthrew Hawaii's Queen Lili'uokalani in 1893. Initially, the US turned down a request by the new government for annexation (wink-wink). Five years later, Hawaii joined the US and all its citizens given US citizenship.


(5) Military Conquest. . .bring out the big guns and damn the consequences >> Survival of the fittest, biggest and strongest
- Mexican Cessation Lands comprising California was lost by Mexico to the US following the Mexican–American War of 1846–48

We could make President Yayi's wish a reality after all! LOL!

What do you think?

hmmmm...wat an analyses....buh judging from our predicament at the moment, I don't think our government would like 2 take that step cos...gbese po lorun naija...2 much gbese

That thing you are taking is not good for you

Already indirectly Nigeria has two Benin... One in Edo and one close to Ogun...hahahaha

canuck:


Hahahahahahahaaaaa!!! Dare to dream. . .and while you are at it, dream BIG!

supposing Nigeria's president is Putin by now Benin Republic would have been declared as Nigeria after dat statement from Yayi..

This an extremely stupid and irresponsible thing for a head of state to call his own country an unofficial state of another country. If i were from Benin Rep. I'd be very offended and worried. It shows how little African leaders know about what a country is or is supposed to be.

@op: please wake up from your slumbers!

1. Benin like most French colonies are still semi-soverign nations that the French government still controls up to their military, their central bank, and other strongest policies they make must past through their masters table.

2. About 2-3 years ago, the French President openly said and I quote "France needs Africa to survive" , this Africa he meant are their colonies.

3. If you have visited these French colonies, u will see how their natives are so poor and u see the French running the economy.

4. French Africa colonies are like annex or backyard for the French citizen till today.

5. French will do everything it can to retain in control in those colonies unlike the British and Portuguese that gave true freedom without any interference to its colonies.

6. Lastly, who will continue to pay the "colonization fees" that he French colonies are paying the France government just for colonizing them ?


I feel hurt in my heart when I see how wicked French is doing in Africa they run them so that they will never wake up, a few countries in the North Africa are waking up gradually but the likes in West Africa are still sleeping, and are caged already. If you try to annexation on a French Colony just accept that you declared war with France! Shikenan!

My opinion!

A referendum of their people should form the basis of their application to the UN for infomation and record purposes to annex to Nigeria.

This is a dream that will never come to pass. Just forget such a thought.