President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate on his plan to take military action against the military leaders in Niger Republic.
The Nigerian leader who doubles as chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), presided over a meeting of the regional bloc last Sunday, where seven days ultimatum was given to the coupists of Niger to relinquish power or face military action. The ultimatum expires in two days.
Earlier, Tinubu dispatched a delegation comprising former head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, to convince the coupists to accept a peaceful resolution of the crisis. The Junta rejected the offer.
The Niger junta, backed by fellow coup led-Burkina Faso and Mali, have also the backing of Russia. Any attack on Niger could lead to a long drawn war.
The Nigerian Senate has two weeks to either approve Tinubu’s request or decline.
A former senator who represented Kaduna Central in the 9th Senate, Shehu Sani, appealed to the Nigerian Senate to reject Tinubu’s request for a military action against Niger.
He said: “The Nigerian Senate should NOT approve any military action against Niger Republic.This country should not be plunged into war and eventually stuck in war in the Sahel. President Tinubu shouldn’t allow himself to be misled by foreign powers.Saudi in Yemen, America in Afghanistan and now Russia in Ukraine should teach us a lesson that war doesn’t end in days, weeks or months.
“Senators should weigh the implications and consequences of their decisions,especially those senators representing states along the Niger Border.”
A former governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour, also rejected the prospect of war.
He said: “Rather than advocating for a military intervention, it is important to encourage dialogue and cooperation between Nigeria and Niger Republic to address the recent coup and restore democracy.
“It is essential to acknowledge the historical context .We are seeing the Re-establishment of the former Songhai empire, with a shared desire to get out of the economic yoke the French have imposed on them for decades.”
Abdulaziz Naibi Abu, a political commentator, said: “If Nigeria chooses to go to war with the Niger Republic then, businesses will collapse, and it will negatively impact our economy in irrevocable ways. Just recently my brother ordered some goods from Algeria, he’s now encountering difficulties bringing the goods to Nigeria.”
TheNiche
