Again, it is worth emphasizing that any military action in Niger will not only begin and end in Niamey, the Nigerian capital, but will spillover and snowball into Northern Nigerian communities in Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, and Borno states.
ASHENEWS reports that thhe Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum (ABMPF) has warned President Bola Tinubu, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), against invading Niger Republic in the interest of Nigeria.
This is contained in a statement by the chairman of the Forum, Abdullahi Yelwa, and made available to ASHENEWS on Saturday evening.
According to the statement, the planned move by the ECOWAS to meddle into the internal affairs of the neighbouring Niger, is not only hasty, ill-conceived, but also a miscalculated adventure that would plunge the region, and the entire Northern Nigeria, which already bedeviled with terrorists activities, into turmoil and anarchy.
“It is our conviction that the task of defending and sustaining democracy in Niger Republic is the solemn duty of the people of Niger. The responsibility of it’s neighbors and friends like Nigeria, is not to exacerbate an already bad situation, but to support the Democratic institutions of the country and pray for her in its time of needs.
“Again, it is worth emphasizing that any military action in Niger will not only begin and end in Niamey, the Nigerian capital, but will spillover and snowball into Northern Nigerian communities in Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, and Borno states.
“Its humanitarian consequences, however, would be felt across the nation and the West African subregion.
“The coup in Niger which began as a palace coup, has now become a national rallying point for anti- neocolonial struggle, not only in Niger but in the rest of the Francophone West Africa. Even the nations of ECOWAS have come to terms with the reality of the coup as a fait-accompli that can’t be easily reversed.
“President Tinubu as ECOWAS leader, is also increasingly being seen as a Western stooge, doing the bidding of France and America. Anyone conversant with the historic role of Nigeria in ending colonialism in Africa, knows that Nigeria doesn’t deserve the accolade of a Western stooge.
“We applaud the courage and steadfastness of the Nigerian Senate and other well-meaning Nigerians’ who have preached caution and restraint.
“We urge other Nigerians to therefore rise with one voice to dissuade ECOWAS from this fatal misadventure,” the Forum stated.
The statement added that before the Berlin Conference of 1884, where Europe partitioned Africa into spheres of influence, what is today called Republic of Niger and Northern Nigeria, were part of the Hausaland and Kanem Borno Empire. They share common cultural, historical, economic and religious affinities, which the Western-imposed artificial boundaries couldn’t severe.
Since independence, the two nations have maintained mutually beneficial diplomatic, socioeconomic, security and cultural relationships. Through informal trade, marriages and other forms of people-to-people engagements, our two countries have welded into one, despite official impediments.
‘’We call on the Tinubu Administration to immediately take the following measures to return our relationship to the status quo ante by suspending all entreaties towards war and seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
The body asked Nigeria to take immediate measures to restore diplomatic ties with Niger Republic and immediately open all our borders and allow the free flow of economic activities and movement of people and restore power supply to the Niger Republic.
