The General Assembly of ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has kicked against the decision reached by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to launch troops in Niger.
On Thursday, ECOWAS directed the deployment of standby military troops to restore constitutional order in the Niger Republic.
It gave the directive at the end of its second extraordinary meeting held in Abuja to address the political crisis in Niger.
The resolve to deploy force comes days after the military junta in Niger defied the ECOWAS deadline to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
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The regional bloc had threatened the use of force as a last option if the Nigerien military authorities remained recalcitrant one week from the ECOWAS first meeting which was held on July 30.
Briefing journalists Saturday in Abuja after its annual general meeting to review the state of the nation, Prof. Patricia Donli, Convener, General Assembly of AAN, while condemning the coup, appealed for the utilization of diplomatic mechanisms in the quest to resolve the crisis.
She said: “ActionAid Nigeria condemns the coup in Niger Republic. However, it is evident that the African Union Peer Review mechanism needs improvement, given the events in Niger.
“We strongly recommend that ECOWAS prioritises diplomacy and dialogue in its approach to the situation, as military intervention could have severe repercussions for neighboring countries, particularly Nigeria, considering Niger’s role as a buffer between Nigeria and the Sahel region.
“It is imperative to ensure stability, peace, and respect for democratic principles in the region, and we call upon ECOWAS to use its influence wisely to achieve this. ECOWAS should guide against the possibility of the Niger crisis stoking superpower rivalry in the region.”
The General Assembly of AAN also lamented the exclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) from the ministerial list submitted by President Bola Tinubu to the Senate.
The Senate on Monday approved and confirmed 45 out of the 48 nominees sent by the President.
“The absence of representation for Persons with Disabilities and the mere 18.8% inclusion of women in the ministerial nominee list is extremely disappointing.
“It is essential for the government to urgently address the lack of representation for Persons with Disabilities and significantly improve the meager 18.8% inclusion of women in the ministerial nominee list,” Donli said.
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