31st July, 2023
The former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Sani has warned President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, against endorsing the armed invasion of Niger Republic.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), under the leadership of Tinubu, had on Sunday gave a seven-day ultimatum to coup plotters in Niger to reinstate deposed President Mohammed Bazoum or face stiff sanctions.
ECOWAS said: “In the event the authority’s demands are not met within one week, take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
“Such measures may include the use of force. To this effect, the Chiefs of Defense Staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately.”
Senator Sani, however, urged President Tinubu to ensure that there will be no use of force in Niger.
He also listed thirteen reasons why Nigerians must not support any armed invasion of Niger Republic.
Below are the 13 reasons listed by Senator Shehu Sani.
1.Ecowas armed invasion of Niger Republic is simply a war between Nigeria and Niger because of our proximity.
2.Russia and Wagner May come in support of Niger Republic and Nigeria will have to use its own money to prosecute the operation; Nigeria offsets 70percent of the budget of Ecowas. I don’t see the US Congress approving unlimited arm supplies for Ecowas to wage war against another country.
3. Our bordering states of Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa and Yobe will incur direct hit in the event of war.
4. If there was no military action to dislodge the military coupists in Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad, why that of Niger Republic?
5. Why did the American and French military bases inside Niger Republic refused to stop the coup and now they are encouraging us to go to war?
6. Niger has been helpful to Nigeria in the fight against terrorists groups and the country is currently hosting over 303 thousand Nigerian refugees; in the event of war this can be in danger.
7. President Tinubu should not allow himself to be pushed to initiate and trigger a war with a neighboring country and later be left stranded. No west African country has any military capability to start or sustain a war with Niger Republic; everyone will be relying on Nigeria.
8. We should not cry more than the bereaved; If the people of Niger Republic don’t want Military rule, let them fight to remove it themselves. We fought our own military rulers and some of us even went to jail in that struggle. Let them fight their fight.
9. Saudi Arabia is still bugged down in Yemen after spending hundreds of billions of dollars which we don’t have.
10. The Military Regime in Myanmar is still there and not one stronger nation is contemplating military action.
11. We have a war at home against terrorism let’s concentrate here.
12. Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinean forces will likely enter the war to Support Niger Republic and they will attack Nigerian territories.
13. President Tinubu must continue to toe the line of dialogue with the military authorities in Niger and not War.