Ime Akpan
The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) has told the United States ambassador to Niger Republic, Ms Kathleen FitzGibbon that keeping the West African country together is probably the most important job she has to do.
The US chapter of the coalition gave the advice to the diplomat in a letter dated September 8, 2023 and made available to NewsGazette in Lagos.
NADECO, in the letter signed by its executive director, Mr Lloyd Ukwu, said the crisis in Niger does not need American, military or western solution, but African-based Ubuntu ideology which is the belief that our existence lies in the collective existence of humanity.
“Our local intel has it that any use of force will have a blowback, not just in Niger, but in the whole of Africa. The ripple effect would be felt even in the global north,” NADECO said.
It further stated that America’s diplomatic attachment and affinity to France makes the US increasingly unpopular in Nigeria and the region, stressing that majority Nigerian elites and average citizens see the standoff in Niger “as American and French war with Russia using ECOWAS as the puppet.”
“The northern part of Nigeria, which has cultural, traditional, ancestral and religious affinity and ties with Niger sees it as a declaration of war on their cultural, religious and ancestral heritage.”
It said FitzGibbon’s diplomatic mission in Niger should bolster efforts to help resolve the political impasse in that country while paying attention to the yearnings of the Nigerien aborigines and the minorities.
NADECO said her appointment “is not only timely, but of utmost importance” considering “your track record of the wealth of nation-building experience and international diplomacy.”
“It is our firm belief at NADECO that as a career senior diplomat with significant experience specialising in West Africa, you are indeed not only uniquely positioned to lead the US government efforts in support of the American community and the preservation of Niger’s hard-democracy, but also to furnish the White House with feedbacks laden with existential realities that are typical with the everyday true yearnings and notions of the people across the African continent,” NADECO said.
Besides, it said her deployment to Niger “is not in a bid to change the US policy position about coup d’états, rather your diplomatic focus will be to advocate for a diplomatic solution that preserves constitutional order in Niger, and for the immediate release of President Baszoum, his family, and all those unlawfully detained. This of course is a legitimate diplomatic demand.”
The coalition further advised the American envoy “to arm yourself with uncommon political facts that are not on the mainstream media that would help you have informed discourse with the junta who has determined to hold on to power” adding that it would like to meet with the ambassador to work out possible areas of cooperation and collaboration.
