By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Sunday Isuwa, PAUL UWADINMA , Abuja, ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna, And KHALID IDRIS DOYA, Bauchi
As the deadline handed to the military junta in the Republic of Niger to return power to the democratically elected government ends today, chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is at a crossroads.
The Nigerian leader has reached an important but uncertain stage where he must either proceed with a military onslaught to quell the coup d’etat in Niger or heed to calls from his home country to adopt diplomatic and political approach instead.
Nigerians, including the federal legislature, state governors and opposition parties, have insisted that Tinubu should jettison the idea of going into war with coupists in Niger.
The Nigerian Senate yesterday rejected the option of military operations in the Niger Republic, calling on the ECOWAS parliament and other leaders to condemn the coup.
According to the Red Chamber, the Niger political impasse should be addressed politically rather than deploying military action.
Tinubu had written to the Senate on Friday, seeking for the implementation of the Resolutions of ECOWAS on the political situation in Niger Republic.
The communiqué issued by the ECOWAS leaders chaired by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is their chairman, stated that military action would be carried against any country that forcefully toppled a democratically elected government.
But considering the executive communication during a closed door session that lasted for more than 2 hours, the Senate rejected military action and insisted on engaging with the president on resolving the issue.
Speaking after the closed door session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said at the close session, the lawmakers considered Tinubu’s request and resolved to go for a political solution rather than military action, considering the relationship between Nigeria and Niger.
He stated: “At our executive session, the Senate condemned in totality the coup that took place in Niger Republic. The Senate commends President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other head of states of ECOWAS on their prompt response.
“The Senate recognises the fact that President Tinubu, by the virtue of his correspondents, has not asked that we should approve a request to go to war, but he expressed a wish to solicit support in the successful implementation of the ECOWAS communique.
“The leadership of the Senate is mandated to further engage the president on how best to engage and resolve the issues”.
The Senate called on the president of Nigeria who is also the chairman of ECOWAS to further engage leaders to strengthen political options in resolving the political situation.
“The Senate is mandated to further engage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on how best to resolve the issue inview of the cordial relationship between Nigeria and Niger.
“The Senate called on the ECOWAS parliament to rise to this and condemn the military coup in Niger and to resolve the impasse,” Akpabio added.
Similarly, the Northern Senators Forum condemned the coup in Niger, but rejected military actions against the Juntas.
The Northern Senators, who caution against the use of military might, added that Nigeria and ECOWAS should use diplomatic channels to address the situation rather than military might.
The lawmakers also frowned at economic and other sanctions imposed on Niger, adding that if the issue is not well managed, it may affect some of states like Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno negatively.
Spokesman of the Northern Senator, Sumaila Kawu, said, “We, the Northern Senators of the Northern Senators Caucus of the 10th Senate under the leadership of Sen Abdul Ahmad Ningi, note with concern and condemn in its entirety the unfortunate development in Niger Republic, where the military forcefully upstaged a democratically elected government of President Mohammed Bazoum.
“The Northern Senators also take cognizance of the efforts of the ECOWAS leaders under the chairmanship of our Dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in resolving the situation in Niger Republic.
“The emphasis, however, should be focused on political and diplomatic means to restore democratic government in the Niger Republic.
“We also take exception to the use of military force until other avenues as mentioned above are exhausted as the consequences will be casualties among the innocent citizens who go about their daily business. Besides, about seven northern states shared the border with the Niger Republic namely Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa. Yobe and Borno will be negatively affected.
“We are also aware of the situation in Mali, Burkina Faso and Libya, which may affect the seven Northern states whose military force is used.
“There is a serious implication for our country; its military force is used without exhausting all diplomatic channels. As democrats and representatives of the people we are here by urging our colleagues to observe due diligence in invoking section 5 subsection (4) (a) and (b) of the constitution”.
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its governors, and some of its key stakeholders cautioned President Tinubu against going into any form of war with the Republic of Niger over the recent military coup in the country.
They asked the president to deploy all tools of dialogue and diplomacy instead.
The party leaders, who stated this after a three-hour meeting in Abuja, also faulted the appointment of 48 ministers and several special advisers and assistants, adding it should be reduced to ensure the failing health of the economy.
The call by PDP, its governors and stakeholders on the Niger imbroglio, was a follow up to calls by northern Senators and northern elders against the resort to military action.
They spoke at a meeting held at the instance of PDP Governors’ Forum in Abuja.
Reading the communiqué of the meeting yesterday, chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Bauchi State governor Bala Mohammed said, “The meeting advised the President, Commander in Chief and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not to go into any form of war with the Republic of Niger over the recent military coup in the country, rather all tools of dialogue and diplomacy should be further employed.”
He added that the governors and organs of the party solidly support the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the PDP vice presidential candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to rescue the stolen mandate in the tribunal and would do everything lawful towards achieving this.
In the same vein, leaders of the Ulama Forum in Nigeria called on the Nigerian government and ECOWAS to avoid issuing threats or employing violence in the ongoing political impasse between Nigeria and Niger Republic.
Leaders of the Ulama Forum stated their position yesterday at an emergency meeting convened by its chairman and secretary, Aminu Inuwa Muhammed and Engr. Basheer Adamu Aliyu.
They advised Nigeria and ECOWAS to instead take to more enlightened and more informed diplomatic protocols in assisting Niger Republic to restore its democracy.
The Ulama leaders also counseled the Nigerian National Assembly to wake up to its constitutional responsibility of critically looking into this issue and exercise the necessary checks on the Executive and prevent Nigeria from going into needless war.
They also resolved that faith organisations in the country should embark on preaching for peace in the region and maintaining the good neighborliness that has long existed between Nigeria and Niger Republic.
The Ulama leaders similarly called on the Muslim Ummah to embark on earnest prayers for Allah’s mercy in touching the hearts of African leaders so that they can listen to the voice of reason and not to succumb to the influence of subterranean hands.
“It is vitally important for the Nigerian government to consider its current formative stage and the security threats that are spreading all over the nation which are stretching its resources and capabilities than to rush into an avoidable conflict with a neighbour at the behest of global politicking,” they stated.
The Ulama chiefs however commended ECOWAS’ latest diplomatic initiative of sending envoys to engage the military leaders of Niger in a robust and constructive dialogue, saying “This is indeed the right way to go, and it should be explored to the maximum extent.”
The Ulamas observed that military intervention in Niger republic, like those that took place in the Sahel region before it, is sad, most unfortunate and deserves condemnation by democratic minds and all peace loving people the world over.
They said notwithstanding the preference which many people have for democracy and its principles, the choice for the route to good governance is strictly that of citizens of each country, hence it is the right of the people of Niger to fight for the restoration of democracy in their country if they so wish.
They warned that any attempt by anybody anywhere, other than in Niger, will amount to employing undemocratic means to achieve a democratic end.
The leaders also noted with concern that the ultimatum given by ECOWAS to the current leaders of Niger goes counter to democratic protocols and it encroaches on the sovereignty of the country.
They concluded: “The leading role of ECOWAS to protect and secure the region from all foreign intrusions would be stretched beyond limits and dispose to divide and rule between the traditional lines of Anglophone and Francophone by those bent on stealing the resources of the region, by illegitimate ways and means”.
Also, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), representing the collective voice of the Muslim Ummah, cautioned against planned military action in Niger Republic.
A statement issued by its secretary general, Prof Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, noted the relevance of upholding democratic principles and the rule of law to fostering stability, development and steady progress within nations, saying they are without doubt cornerstones for good governance.
According to JNI, democratic principles and rule of law prevent arbitrary use of force and power which ensures consistency with international human rights, norms and standards.
The JNI commended the efforts so far undertaken by the Nigerian government, particularly the initiation of a dialogue process aimed at resolving the crisis in Niger Republic.
“While this attempt may not have yielded the desired results, it demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to peaceful resolutions,” it stated.
JNI acknowledged that dialogue is an invaluable tool in preventing further bloodshed and instability within the Sahel Region already beclouded with many political and security uncertainties.
It cautioned against the pursuit of military action as a means to restore democracy, stressing that “the interlaced landscape of the northern states of Nigeria and the Republic of Niger, it necessitates a more circumspect and thoughtful action and/or approach.
“With several Nigerian states sharing borders with Niger Republic, military intervention could have unintended consequences that may impact the peace and stability of both nations,” it added.
JNI called on all stakeholders to prioritise more diplomatic and political conciliation and collective efforts to the crisis.
“We believe strongly that dialogue, cooperation, and negotiation are the most effective means to establish lasting peace and stability in the region.
“It is equally essential that the international community, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), continues to engage in peaceful diplomatic discussions aimed at finding a resolution please.
“In these challenging times, we urge all faithful believers to turn to Allah in prayer, seeking His merciful intervention to guide leaders toward wise decisions and a peaceful resolution. Let us pray together for the restoration of peace and order, the protection of human rights, and the well-being of the people of Nigeria and Niger Republic,” it stated.
Similarly, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) rejected the planned military invasion of Niger Republic by ECOWAS.
The CNG, in a statement by its spokesperson, Abdulazeez Suleiman, said it joined other Nigerians, particularly the Northern Senators Forum, in rejecting the option of war and called instead for political and diplomatic means to restore democratic government in that country.
The CNG called on the federal government not to rush into war without exhausting every economic and diplomatic means to pressure the junta in Niger to return power to the democratically elected government and
It cautioned President Tinubu that in consideration of Nigeria’s national interest, a military intervention in Niger must be an absolutely last option, given Nigeria’s present domestic fragility.
The coalition also urged ECOWAS and the international community to understand that bilateral friendships are guided by the principles of sovereignty, promotion of peace and the standards that guide legitimate interference.
It asked Nigeria, ECOWAS and the international community to weigh the impact and consequences of a destabilised Niger Republic which will certainly threaten the peace and security of the entire sub-Saharan Africa.
It also warned that a war in Niger will only compound the security and humanitarian situations in the West African subregion and further worsen the situation on the continent, disrupt international cohesion, compound the despondent cases of human trafficking, migration and other challenges the continent and the world are now facing.
It specifically cautioned President Tinubu that acceding to such a dangerous, ill-advised, self-destructive option of leading a war in Niger Republic has the potential to consume not only him but also Nigeria and the ECOWAS he heads.
CNG called on the Nigerian Senate, the Council of State and Nigerian Governors Forum to guide the president properly against leading a military intervention in Niger and to the imperative of restoring electricity supply to it.
