Niger: Misconstruing ECOWAS, Nigeria’s stand

In the last one week, there had been heightened brouhaha and frenzy in the social media and some sections of the mass media that ECOWAS and indeed Nigeria are preparing to invade Niger Republic following the coup in that country unless the elected President Bazoum was restored to power.

The narrative about the false invasion followed a misrepresentation of the ECOWAS resolutions earlier that clearly stated that diplomatic, political and economic pressure should be brought to bear on the coupists to reverse their actions and restore constitutional rule. The military junta in Niamey was issued a one-week ultimatum to restore the democratically elected government or face a series of sanctions by ECOWAS member states.

It would be recalled that ECOWAS had made it clear that it would not tolerate any change of government unless by democratic means and that forceful takeover by few disgruntled soldiers who assumed that force is a solution to social and economic problems cannot be allowed to stand.

Nigeria, being the current chairman of ECOWAS and leading country in Africa, made it very clear that unconstitutional takeover of power in Niger Republic must be curtailed to stop the expansion of the “sahelian coup belt” before it leads to serious economic and political fallouts and produce a contagion-effect on other African countries.

The consequences of the war in Libya which led to the proliferation of small arms is still being dealt with in the region and therefore allowing the region to be a coup belt will only further plunge it into more political and economic crises.

Mischief makers and political opposition in Nigeria in an effort to discredit the federal government, found fodder to feed gullible followers that Tinubu wanted war by all means.

Pundits and other commentators have gone further and tried to compare the ongoing war in Ukraine as a likely scenario to happen in the region, forgetting that in Niger there’s no claim on any territory, no ethnic issues involved, no seizure of assets or infrastructure.

The cardinal objective of ECOWAS by the resolution on Niger is to restore constitutional rule in Niger and, therefore, to read any other meaning is to tread the paths of mischief.

Some people have gone as far as to allege that ECOWAS and Nigeria are doing the bidding of foreign countries in order to disparage the noble objectives of the regional body. ECOWAS stands for the rule of law and any other interpretation is self-serving.

As is typical, Nigerians who tried to justify the coup failed to point out any benefit of military rule in the region for all the years they held sway. Niger stands to gain nothing in this military takeover. Instead, the country will find itself further isolated and heighten its economic situation.

The fact that Mali and Burkina Faso are urging the coupists to stand firm, they will offer it no meaningful assistance now or in the near future.

As for Nigeria and the ECOWAS, their only objective is simply: restore constitutional order.

In the case at hand, the use of force to remove the coupists, where it becomes necessary, ought not to be interpreted as an attack on Niger Republic.

The public ought to understand no civilian targets, innocent persons or civilian infrastructure will be subjected to attacks. There is in fact no basis for the widespread clamour not to wage war on Niger.

It’s sad that neighbouring states are being thrown into unnecessary panic by this war frenzy that they will be the theatre of war with dire consequences.

The world at large has gone so far as to allow military rule.

Nigeria, indeed the ECOWAS and even the African Union are intervening to save ordinary Nigeriens from the trauma of living in a military dictatorship once again. Military dictatorships are gone for good and should never be tolerated under whatever guise.

The choice of the electorate must be respected and upheld. Those who don’t like the policies of elected government must learn to change them through the cycles of elections.

Adamu Lawal Toro wrote from Wuse Zone 5, Abuja