The senate yesterday refused to grant the request by President Bola Tinubu to use military action against the Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani-led junta in Niger Republic.
Recall that the president had on Friday, August 4, written to the senate intimating the lawmakers about the political situation in Niger.
“Following the unfortunate political situation in the Niger Republic culminating in the overthrow of its [resident, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under my leadership condemned the coup in its entirety and resolved to seek the return of the democratically elected government,” Tinubu said.
He therefore sought the senate’s approval for “military build-up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant.”
However, rising from a closed-door session yesterday, the senate president, Mr Godswill Akpabio, read a communiqué saying the lawmakers opposed the use of military action to force the Nigerien putchists to relinquish power
He said the senate, instead, advised the president and his colleagues in ECOWAS to use diplomatic and political channels to resolve the crisis and return the country to democratic governance in the near future.
Akpabio also disclosed the senate’s resolve that its leadership should meet with Tinubu over the resolutions of the red chamber.
“The senate commends President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and other heads of states and governments of the ECOWAS for their prompt response and the position taken on the unfortunate development in Niger Republic.
“The senate recognises the fact that President Tinubu by his correspondence has not asked for the approval of this Senate to go to war as being erroneously suggested in some quarters.
“Rather, the president and commander-in-chief had expressed and I quote, ‘He wished to respectively solicit the support of the National assembly in the successful implementation of the ECOWAS resolutions as outlined in the said communication.’
“The leadership of the senate is mandated to: Urge the president and commander-in-chief on behalf of the senate on how best to resolve the issues.
“The senate calls on the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Chairman of ECOWAS to further encourage other leaders of ECOWAS to strengthen the political and diplomatic options and other means with which to resolve the political impasse in Niger Republic.
“The national assembly also calls on the ECOWAS leadership under President Tinubu to resolve the political situation in Niger and return the country to democratic governance in the near future.
“The leadership of the senate is mandated to further engage the President and Commander-in-Chief on behalf of the senate and the national assembly on how best to resolve the issue in view of the hitherto existing cordial relationship between Niger and Nigeria.
“Finally, the Senate called on the ECOWAS Parliament to rise to the occasion by condemning this and also positing solutions to resolve this impasse as soon as possible,” Akpabio stated.
Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) advised Tinubu against going to war with Niger Republic.
Rising from its meeting held in Abuja yesterday, the PDP Governors’ Forum advised the president to use all tools of dialogue and diplomacy to tackle the problem.
“The meeting advised the president, commander-in-chief and the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not to go into any form of war with the Republic of Niger over the recent military coup in the country, rather all tools of dialogue and diplomacy should be further employed,” said the governor of Bauchi State and chairman, PDP Governors Forum, Mr Bala Mohammed, who read the communiqué.
Also giving its voice to the subject matter, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, warned Nigeria and the ECOWAS authorities not to resort to military action against the junta.
The caution is contained in a statement issued in Kaduna by JNI secretary general, Prof Khalid Aliyu.
The group expressed its deep concern over the seizure of power through a coup from the democratically elected Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum.
“We firmly note the relevance of upholding democratic principles and the rule of law to fostering the stability, development and steady progress within nations.
“Without a doubt, these are the cornerstones for good governance because democratic principles and the rule of law prevent arbitrary use of force and power and ensure consistency with international human rights, norms and standards,” Aliyu said.
The Muslim body commended the efforts so far undertaken by the Nigerian government, particularly the initiation of a dialogue process, aimed at resolving the crisis in Niger Republic.
“While this attempt may not have yielded the desired results, it demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to peaceful resolutions.
“We acknowledge that dialogue is an invaluable tool in preventing further bloodshed and instability within the Sahel Region, which has many political and security uncertainties.
“Nevertheless, we wish to raise a word of caution against pursuing military action as a means to restore democracy,” he said.
Aliyu stated that with several Nigerian states sharing borders with Niger Republic, military intervention could have unintended consequences that might impact the peace and stability of both nations.
“The interlaced landscape of the northern states of Nigeria and the Republic of Niger necessitates a more circumspect and thoughtful action and/or approach.
“With several Nigerian states sharing borders with Niger, military intervention could have unintended consequences that may impact the peace and stability of both nations.
“JNI, therefore, calls upon all stakeholders to prioritise more diplomatic and political conciliation and collective efforts to the crisis. We believe strongly that dialogue, cooperation, and negotiation are the most effective means to establish lasting peace and stability in the region. It is equally essential that the international community, including the ECOWAS, continues to engage in peaceful diplomatic discussions aimed at finding a resolution,” the statement added.
For its part, France said on Saturday it will support efforts to overturn the military coup in Niger.
The French foreign minister, Catherine Colonna stated this when she visited the prime minister of the Niger Republic, Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou in Paris.
“France supports with firmness and determination the efforts of ECOWAS to defeat this coup attempt. The future of Niger and the stability of the entire region are at stake,” she said.
The minister did not specify whether its backing would entail military support for an ECOWAS intervention in Niger.
Defence chiefs from ECOWAS have drawn up a plan for military action if the coup leaders do not reinstate Bazoum by Sunday (today), raising the spectre of further conflict in a region that is already battling a deadly Islamist insurgency.
ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, said the decision of when and where to strike will be made by heads of state.
“All the elements that will go into any eventual intervention have been worked out here, including the resources needed, the how and when we are going deploy the force,” he said at the close of a three-day meeting in Abuja, Nigeria on Friday, August 4.
Meanwhile, the 59-year-old Tchiani, who received some of his military training in France, said the junta will not back down.
With Vanguard, NAN, France 24 reports
