Muslim Clerics: Niger Junta Now Ready to Dialogue with ECOWAS

·      Apologises for snubbing Tinubu’s delegation

·      Says sacking Bazoum was in collective interest

·      PDP: APC desperate to drag nation to war for ulterior motives

·      War in Niger may signal end of ECOWAS, NLC warns

·      Lamido, HURIWA, Sani, others fault military intervention

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Kingsley Nwezeh, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Francis Sardauna in Katsina

Leader of the Niger junta, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, weekend, appeared to have shifted from his earlier hardline stance  and agreed to dialogue with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on a lasting political solution to the situation in the country, according to Muslim clerics.

The change of mind came after a meeting with the intervention team of Nigeria’s Islamic leaders, led by National Chairman of Jamatul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, Bala Lau, in Niger’s capital, Niamey.

The junta also apologised to ECOWAS Chairman, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, for denying the ECOWAS delegation access to the country.

But Tchiani justified the decision to oust President Mohamed Bazoum, and said the intervention was informed by imminent threat to both Niger and Nigeria, which had to be averted.

Meanwhile, the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, condemned what it called the desperation of Tinubu and his governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to plunge Nigeria into war with neighbouring Niger Republic based on ulterior motives.

Relatedly, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) advised the ECOWAS leadership and Nigeria against deploying soldiers in Niger, saying it may signal the end of ECOWAS.

Former governor of Jigawa State, Mr. Sule Lamido, also said the coup in Republic of Niger had exposed Tinubu as lacking much-needed knowledge and understanding of international diplomacy.

On its part, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) urged Tinubu to exercise prudence in committing the Nigerian Army to military actions in Niger without proper legislative concurrence in line with the constitution. HURIWA emphasised the need to uphold constitutional checks and balances to preserve democratic integrity and national security.

Former Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Shehu Sani, said military incursion into Niger by an ECOWAS standby force would be synonymous with a declaration of war by Nigeria.

Katsina-Daura Unity and Progress Forum also described as ill-conceived the ECOWAS decision to use its standby military force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.

A statement by Lau, yesterday, said the coup leader and Islamic scholars deliberated on several issues, including the demand by ECOWAS leaders that ousted Bazoum be reinstated.

The junta’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, said Tchiani gave the approval for talks with ECOWAS and was optimistic that the talks with the regional bloc would take place in the next few days.

Zeine stated, “We have agreed and the leader of our country has given the green light for dialogue. They will now go back and inform the Nigerian president what they have heard from us. We hope in the coming days, they (ECOWAS) will come here to meet us to discuss how the sanctions imposed against us will be lifted.”

Lau said the clerics were in Niger on behalf of Tinubu, who accepted their request to intervene. He added that the visit was to engage in constructive dialogue to encourage the junta leader and other military leaders behind the coup to toe the path of peace instead of war in resolving the crisis.

The leader of the Islamic delegation, reportedly, met Tchiani for several hours in Niamey during which they deliberated on all the issues, including the demand by ECOWAS leaders that Bazoum be restored.

Tchiani, in his response, said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter. He said it was painful to the coup leaders that the ECOWAS leaders did not hear their side of the matter before issuing an ultimatum to them to quit office.

The junta leader apologised for not according the team sent by Tinubu, led by a former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), access to the country. He said it was because of their anger over the ECOWAS ultimatum.

But Tchiani insisted the coup was well-intended to stave off an imminent threat that could have affected both Niger and Nigeria.

Tchiani, in a statement, traced the historical ties between the two countries, saying they are not only neighbours but also brothers and sisters, who should resolve issues amicably.

At the end of their meeting with the coup leaders, Nigeria’s intervention team agreed to intensify the option of dialogue in trying to resolve the political crisis in that country.

Speaking with newsmen in Niamey after the meeting, a member of the intervention team and Chief Missioner of Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria, Sheik Ahmad Abdulrahman, said contrary to reports in some sections of the media, the team was well received by Tchiani and both parties had fruitful discussions.

Abdulrahman said, “We will now go back home and report to President Tinubu what we have discussed and impress it on him that war is not an option in resolving the matter. We believe that war is an ill wind that will not blow any good and that peaceful resolution should prevail.”

Those on the team were Sheik Kabiru Gombe-Secretary, Jamatul Izalatul Bida Waikamatul Sunnah; Sheik Yakubu Musa Hassan Katsina, Director Daawah, JIBWIS; Sheik Ibrahim Dahiru Bauchi representing Sheik Ibrahim Bauchi; and Dr Khalid Aliya, Secretary General, Jammatul Nasril Islam.

Others included Sheik Karibullah Nasiru Kabara, Leader, Khadriya group Nigeria; Sheik Ahmad Abdurahman; Professor Salisu Sheri, Deputy Secretary-General, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs; Sheik Nasiru Abdul Muhayuid; Director Admin, JIBWIS Jos;  Professor Mansur Sokoto; and Alhaji Mele Kyari.

PDP: APC Desperate to Drag Nigeria into War

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, condemned what it described as the desperation by Tinubu and APC to plunge Nigeria into a state of war by dragging the military into a needless conflict with Niger Republic.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, PDP said the APC administration’s insistence on drafting Nigerian soldiers into Niger Republic in defiance of the disapproval by the National Assembly and Nigerians, generally, validated apprehensions in the public domain about ulterior motives by the Tinubu-led APC to import crisis and destabilise the nation for political reasons.

PDP said, “While the PDP frowns on unconstitutional change of government in any part of the world, our party holds that the situation in Niger Republic does not warrant any external peace-keeping effort and does not constitute any threats whatsoever to our national interest to justify committing our already overstretched military to harm’s way in a needless war.

“The insistence of the APC government to go to war in Niger Republic is already heightening tension in Nigeria. There are insinuations in the public that the APC is only desperate to deploy Nigerian military to Niger Republic so as to provoke possible external aggression from that country, thereby orchestrating a situation for the declaration of a state of emergency in Nigeria.”

It claimed the idea was “to cripple the judicial process on the 2023 presidential election and divert attention from the hardship the APC has foisted on the nation in the last two months.

“It is apparent that the APC is desperate to orchestrate a situation of ‘imminent danger of invasion or involvement in a state of war’ so as to have the excuse to declare a state of emergency under Section 305 (3) (a) and (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

“The PDP holds that nothing else can explain why the APC administration is eager to go to war in Niger Republic while it has practically turned a blind eye to the insecurity situation in our country, even with the mindless killing of over 500 innocent Nigerians in Plateau, Benue, Niger, Kaduna and other states of the federation since May 2023.”

The party said also distressing was that APC was ready to deploy billions of naira to prosecute a needless war, despite the  ailing national economy, crippled production sector, energy crisis, massive unemployment, frightening fall in the value of the Naira, and excruciating hardship in the country occasioned by APC’s ill-informed, hasty and ill-implemented policies.

NLC: War in Niger May Signal End of ECOWAS

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warned the leaders of ECOWAS and Nigeria not to go ahead with their decision to deploy soldiers in Niger to fight for the restoration of the ousted civilian government, saying it may signal the end of the body.

NLC said it had reason to believe that ECOWAS was a victim of its double standards or discriminatory policies, which had seen the body condoning coup and even celebrating coups.

Apart from the possibility of such aggressive action destabilising the entire region, including northern Nigeria, NLC said there would be loss of many lives in and out of the battle field.

It warned that such move could result in an unintended outcome “of turning Niger into a fertile territory for proxy wars.”

In a statement signed by NLC president, Joe Ajaero, the labour movement said, “This is a euphemism for war, immediate war on Niger Republic, our consistently most peaceful neighbour. It will amount to stating the obvious that we at the Nigeria Labour Congress are averse to military rule. 

“Indeed, the history of the struggle for democratic rule in Nigeria cannot be complete without mentioning the illustrious contribution of the labour movement.

“Despite our unimpeachable credentials in the popular struggle against military rule, we would strongly counsel against the use of military force to remove the military junta in Niger Republic, as the disadvantages clearly outweigh the benefits, from putting in danger the lives of the deposed President Bazoum and his family to the destabilisation of the entire region, including northern Nigeria, and loss of many lives in and out of the battlefield.

“Equally of significance is the unintended possibility of turning Niger into a fertile territory for proxy wars.”

NLC added that ECOWAS also risked a spike in terrorism and insurgence across the region.

Lamido: Niger Republic Coup Crisis Has Exposed Tinubu

Former governor of Jigawa State, Mr. Sule Lamido, said the coup in the Republic of Niger had exposed Tinubu’s lack of knowledge and understanding of international diplomacy.

Lamido, who was Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, said the fact that Tinubu was an emperor with the total dominance of the most populous and prosperous state of Lagos did not confer on him any wisdom in diplomacy.

He counselled the president to harvest from the connection and wisdom of Nigeria’s former presidents and heads of state in dealing with the Niger crisis.

Lamido stated these while reacting to the stand adopted by ECOWAS on the coup d’état in Niger Republic. He noted that since the coup d’état in Niger Republic, Tinubu had found himself walking on a tightrope and in a state of dilemma on how best to handle the situation.

He further said since the senate, which is empowered by the constitution to authorise the president to approve war, had withheld its approval, the best available option left for Tinubu was to embark on damage control by harvesting from the connection, wisdom and experience of Nigeria’s former presidents and heads of state.

Lamido stated, “These leaders are highly respected and trusted not only in our sub-region but globally. There is, indeed, no love lost between President Tinubu and some of them, but certainly, on any issue that affects Nigeria, no matter how remote, those leaders will always be there for Nigeria.”

HURIWA: Unauthorised Military Action May Trigger Negative Consequences

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) urged Tinubu to exercise prudence in committing the Nigerian Army to military actions without proper legislative concurrence in line with the constitution. It said there was need to uphold constitutional checks and balances to preserve democratic integrity and national security.

Addressing concerns about potential deployments of the Nigerian Army to foreign military operations in the neighbouring Niger Republic, with the aim of restoring democratic order, HURIWA underscored the gravity of adhering to constitutional safeguards.

It called on the National Assembly to ensure that Tinubu followed legal protocols in matters of national security, and fully comprehended relevant constitutional provisions and international agreements.

In a press statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA asserted that Tinubu’s engagement of Nigerian troops in warfare or conflict without the National Assembly’s requisite approval constituted a breach of constitutional trust and could potentially trigger impeachment.

The association stressed the significance of maintaining the foundational principle of checks and balances to safeguard democratic governance.

Sani Explains Implications of Military Action in Niger

Former Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Shehu Sani, said military incursion into Niger Republic by ECOWAS would be synonymous with a declaration of war by Nigeria. Sani disclosed this during a media chat with some news men in Abuja.

He said there was nothing wrong with applying pressure on the coup leaders in Niger, but deploying military force against the Francophone country sharing a northern border with Nigeria had a lot of implications.

According to Sani, “Armed invasion of Niger by ECOWAS will simply be a war between Nigeria and Niger because Nigeria foots the bills of ECOWAS.

“If we are going to get into war with the Niger Republic, what will be the future of states like Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Sokoto, Yobe, and Borno that share borders with Niger? What will be the fate of people living in these areas?

“Right now there are more than 303,000 Nigerian refugees that were sacked by terrorist groups living in villages in Niger Republic.”

The senator,  who recalled experiences of the past, said, “If we get into an armed confrontation with Niger Republic, in the 21st century, there is no one-week war. There is no one-month war. It is years of war.

“What resources do we have to prosecute a war? Does our military have the experience to fight a war in the Sahel, or the desert?

“The coup happened when the French and U.S. had military bases in Niger. If these could not stop the coup, they could not protect Bazoum, and they could not restore Bazoum to power, is it the Nigerian army that has security challenges in Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, Kaduna, Yobe, Borno, Plateau, Nasarawa that will neglect these places and go fight a war in Niger?”

Military Action in Niger Ill-conceived, Says Katsina Forum

Katsina-Daura Unity and Progress Forum described as ill-conceived, the ECOWAS of decision to use its standby military force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.

Reacting to the ECOWAS decision at a press conference in Katsina, the acting president of the forum, Mr. Tukur Malami, said it would lead to socio-economic and political disruption in the West African sub-region.

Malami said the amassing of troops and military hardware on standby was an intimidation and a threat to the Republic of Niger, which might hamper diplomatic approach to restoration of democracy.

According to the acting president of the forum, the best antidote against coup is good governance, founded on the basis of free, fair and credible elections.

Malami warned the Tinubu-led federal government to desist from supporting any aggression towards the Republic of Niger and its citizens.

He stated, “Doing so is in effect undertaking a proxy war for NATO and its allies, and will negatively and tragically affect people living in the northern states of Nigeria.

“It also amounts to self-inflicted injury by the Federal Government of Nigeria on its people, especially those living in the northern states, who will definitely be affected by the war.”