Coalition Faults Tinubu, ECOWAS’s Measures on Niger Republic

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

A Niger Republic-based Coalition of Civil Liberty Organisation (CODDAE) in Maradi State has faulted the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) fresh sanctions on their troubled country.

The coalition said ECOWAS got it all wrong in its strategy in Niger, insisting that the regional economic bloc was rather inflicting more economic pain and hardship on the citizens instead of resolving the leadership crisis.

The group, while expressing worries over the overbearing diplomatic policies being brought to bear by the regional union against Niger Republic, insisted that ECOWAS should have push forward better options to mutually resolve the military invasion in the country.

ECOWAS, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, in its resolution, imposed fresh sanctions on the junta in Niger Republic. The regional bloc had earlier given the military seven days to reinstate President Bazoum or risk sanctions, including possible military action.

Leading hundreds of Nigeriens on a peaceful public protest at Tribune public arena in Maradi, the coalition leader, Abdu Dan Neito, said ECOWAS is inflicting more economic pain and hardship on the citizens rather than resolving the leadership crisis.

Neito raised concern on the special interest of President Tinubu on Niger Republic matter, and wondered why similar equal pressure are yet to be seen against other neighbouring African countries where military government is super imposed.

The coalition had enjoined Tinubu to rather upswing energy on abuse of democratic dispensation, and violation of rule of law under his administration in Nigeria.

Essentially, the group faulted President Tinubu’s interference in the governorship election petitions in Kano, Plateau, and Zamfara States under the opposition parties, “which the president is working to take over.”

It alleged that Tinubu is orchestrating double standard in his supposed democratic intervention in Niger Republic while violating democratic process in Kano, Plateau, and Zamfara States governorship election trial to favour his party.

Neito called for appropriate diplomatic sanction by the United Nations and European Union against Nigeria for invading and influencing judicial judgment against the three states.

They equally solicited the support of the 19 northern Nigerian states as brothers bound in economic, social and cultural alliance dated back the pre-independence era, to rescue Niger Republic in its humanitarian crisis.

The coalition made specific cordial relationship between Niger Republic and Kano State in the area of commerce, trade and marital affairs, appealing on Kano State government to prevail on the present hardship in Niger.