By Miracle Ogunde
Reactions from different quarters of the country have been trailing the request made by President Bola Tinubu in his letter written to the Senate yesterday, to seek the approval for the delpyment of military personnel to Niger Republic.
This comes after the meeting between the military junta of Niger and representatives of ECOWAS ended fruitlessly.
Meanwhile, the junta has warned foreign countries and international communities not to interfere in the affairs of Niger and cut off ties with France and some other countries, while recalling it’s ambassadors in foreign countries.
Reacting to the development, Northern Senators in the 10th National Assembly have cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against using military intervention in resolving the crisis in Niger.
Sen. Suleiman Sumaila, the spokesperson for Northern Senators Forum, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
The group of Senators urged the President to adopt political and diplomatic means to restore democratic government in Niger.
According to NSF, military intervention in Niger would affect Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno.
“The emphasis, however, should be 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 do their daily business. Besides, about seven northern states with a border with the Niger Republic will be negatively affected, namely Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno”.
Recall that the Niger military junta severed diplomatic ties with Nigeria after the ECOWAS envoy sent to the country to broker peace failed to achieve a result.
Similarly, a social critic, Reno Omokri is of the view that President Bola Tinubu shouldn’t have made public his request to the Senate for approval of military action against Niger.
Omokri observed that Tinubu’s request should have been a secret memo and deliberated on secretly by the Senate.
His observation was contained in a post via his social media platform on Saturday.
The social critic suggested that it was better to strangulate the Nigerien putschists economically until they restore the democratically elected President.
He wrote: “The request by President Tinubu to the Senate for military intervention in Niger Republic should not have been made public. Not by the Executive or the Legislature. Making it public was a mistake. Except it was done deliberately to intimidate the junta in Niger Republic. If not, it should have been a secret memo, which the Senate should have deliberated on secretly.
“We do not pray for war, and we should do everything to avert it. It is better to strangulate the Nigerien putschists economically until they restore the democratically elected President. The General who seized power should also be offered amnesty if he returns what he stole to the rightful owner. And if he wishes, he should be free to contest as President in the next election in that country.
“But war should be a last resort. And if we must resort to war, we should have a UN mandate, and the international community should pay for the war.”
Also reacting, a former Aviation Minister and Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has disclosed that he doesn’t believe that Nigeria should initiate hostilities by invading or deploying troops to Niger Republic unless it is absolutely necessary.
Fani-Kayode in a statement posted on his social media handles on Saturday, says he does not want a war, adding that if the war eventually comes that Nigerian Soldiers will acquit themselves well in the field of battle and they shall not stand alone.
He asserted that if Niger, Burkina Faso and/or Mali attack Nigeria or any of the ECOWAS allies for any reason whatsoever or deploy their forces on even one inch of their soil, the response must be swift, shocking, deadly and devastating.
He explains that if Wagner jumps into the ring to support them, then Nigeria must get support from Executive Outcomes Blackwater and other western mercenary armies.
He said; “I do not want a war and I do not believe that we should initiate hostilities by invading or deploying troops to Niger Republic unless it is absolutely necessary.
“However if Niger, Burkina Faso and/or Mali attack Nigeria or any of our ECOWAS allies for ANY reason whatsoever or if they deploy their forces on even one inch of our soil, our response must be swift, shocking, deadly and devastating.
“We must kick them out, occupy their Southern territories, take their capital Niamey, topple their military Government and re-establish democracy.
“If a puppy nibbles at the toes of a lion it must be taught the lesson of its life lest it forgets that it is nothing but a dog.
“If Wagner jumps into the ring to support them then Nigeria must get support from Executive Outcomes (remember them?), Blackwater and other western mercenary armies.
“For the record Wagner is NOT the only mercenary force in the world.
“Nigerians should stop trembling at the mention of their name.
“We pray that it does not come to it but if this war eventually comes our boys will acquit themselves well in the field of battle and we shall not stand alone.
“Help will come. We as a nation have the resources and connections to ensure that,” the statement added.
President Bola Tinubu, had on Friday, written to the National Assembly, notifying the lawmakers about the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) possible military action against military leaders and coup plotters in Niger Republic.
Meanwhile, tension continues to mount in the West African region, after military toppled the Niger government headed by President Mohamed Bazoum, who is now held in hostage by the coup plotters.
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