Urges diplomatic options
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Nigerian Senate, Saturday, turned down the request by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deploy troops to Niger Republic against the military junta that displaced the civilian Government of the country.
Senate told Tinubu who doubles as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS; and other leaders in the region; to rather explore diplomatic options to resolve the polical upheaval in that country.
The upper legislative chamber took the position during a closed-door session that lasted nearly two hours today in Abuja.
Tinubu had Friday, transmitted a letter to the Senate seeking its approval for military intervention in Niger.
According to Senate, there are other ways of resolving the Niger crisis amicably without resorting to war.
The Senate, however, strongly condemned change of Government by coup.
Nonetheless, it advised ECOWAS against military action as that has far-reaching implications.
Senate President, Mr. Godswill Akpabio who read the resolution of the upper legislative chamber, said that “the Senate recognises that President Tinubu via his correspondence has not asked for the approval of the parliament of this Senate to go to war as erroneously suggested in some quarters.
“Rather Mr President has expressed a wish to respectfully solicit the support of the National Assembly in the successful implementation of the resolutions of the ECOWAS as outlined in the said communication.
“The Senate calls on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the chairman of ECOWAS to further encourage other leaders of ECOWAS to strengthen political and diplomatic options and other means intending to resolve the political compass in Niger Republic.
“The National Assembly encouraged the ECOWAS under the leadership of President Tinubu in resolving the political situation in Niger and returning the country to democratic governance in the nearest future.
“The leadership of the Senate is mandated to further engage with the President and Commander-in-Chief on behalf of the Senate and the entire National Assembly on how best to resolve the issue given the hitherto existing cordial relationship between Nigeriens and Nigerians.
“Finally, the Senate calls on the ECOWAS parliament to rise to the occasion by equally condemning this coup and also positing solutions to resolving this impasse as soon as possible.”
Several eminent personalities and groups including the the Yoruba pan socio-political organisation, Afenifere; and Arewa Youths, have cautioned against use of force against the military junta in Niger.
Ikengaonline earlier reported that Northern senators had opposed any deployment of Nigerian troops in resolving the crisis in neighboring Niger Republic arguing that any such military expedition would adversely affect the states in the North.
