Niger: Olawepo-Hashim Advises Tinubu against Military Action

*Says Nigeria must return to policy of non-alignment

Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

A former presidential candidate, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has appealed to the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, to reconsider the decision to commit Nigerian troops to the invasion of Niger in pursuant of the ECOWAS’ resolution to reinstate the ousted civilian government in the country.

After Niger’s military junta defied an ultimatum to reinstate elected President Mohammed Bazoum, leaders of the West Africa’s regional bloc at the second extra-ordinary summit on the crisis in Abuja, last Thursday, had maintained that it was seeking a diplomatic solution but was yet to rule out using force to resolve the crisis. They had said all options are still being explored.

It had also demanded the unconditional release and reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

The threat of an invasion, though not specific, raises tensions in and around Niger, a uranium producer that until the coup was an important ally of the West in the fight against Islamist insurgents devastating the Sahel region.

Olawepo-Hashim in a release issued yesterday, in Abuja, explained that though, “the invasion of Niger Republic may achieve the objective of removing the military Junta in Niamey, it has the potential of escalating the security problem in the North West and North East of Nigeria as the remnant of the fleeing men loyal to the Junta will hibernate in forests between Nigeria and Niger to escalate what the bandits have been doing to Nigeria in the past few years.”

The ruling All Progressives Congress chieftain however reiterated the fact that, “nations go to war primarily to protect their national interests, but in this case, there is no national interest of Nigeria at stake in Niger to warrant a commitment of Nigerian troops,” adding that the problem in Niger is an internal problem of Niger and at best a Francophone problem.

According to him, “Nigeria must return to its traditional foreign policy of pursuing peace and security in Africa, policy of Non-Aggression and Non-Alignment.”
“We must remain Non Aligned to the interests of any foreign power at the Global stage as formulated by our founding fathers at independence. The policy of Non-Alignment championed by Nigeria and India earned the nation respect and friendship all over the world,” he added.

He stated that, “Africa cannot afford another security mess similar to what happened after the invasion of Libya and overthrow of Muammar Gadaffi in 2012 that destabilised the entire Sahel region, and Nigeria is still battling with the consequences in mounting security problems in the North West and North East regions.”

While noting that military intervention is now regarded as an aberration around the world, he nevertheless, urged the ECOWAS to employ “constructive engagement and diplomacy” in ensuring that democratic structures are restored in the country.”