As Northern senators kick against use of force
Our Reporter, Abuja & Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has declared that the regional body was ready to attack the military junta which overthrew the civilian government in Niger Republic penultimate week.
ECOWAS had given the coupists a 7-day ultimatum to restore democratic rule in the country a directive the military junta vowed not to oblige.
Rising from an emergency meeting of Chiefs of Defense Staff of ECOWAS countries, in Abuja on Friday, the military chiefs declared their readiness to use force against the military government in Niger.
Chairman of the committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS countries, General Christopher Gwabim Musa of Nigeria, said the Chiefs of Defence Staff of the regional bloc had prepared and agreed on a well-coordinated military response and concrete action to be taken against the coupist in Niger.
According to him, action will begin whenever the authorities of the Heads of States give the marching orders.
The Nigeria’s CDS also said that the military chiefs were solidly behind the position of the ECOWAS in rejecting change of power via coup d’etat, saying they are committed to democracy.
Gen. Musa who spoke at the closing of the two-day deliberations aimed at mapping out military strategies to be undertaken to restore democratic governance in Niger, said military intervention in Niger was a sacrifice needed to protect democracy.
“We thank ECOWAS for standing steadfast for democracy. That is what we (the committee of chiefs of Defence Staff) stand for.
“We achieved so much from our deliberation and we urged those who have erred to come back home. We will continue to build on our cooperation until we achieve all-round peace in our sub-region.
“We must intensify our diplomatic process. ECOWAS will not be used for coups. Democracy is what we stand for. We deliberated and arrived at well-coordinated response. We will make our viable, insightful and actionable recommendations known to the authorities of the heads of states.”
Speaking also, ECOWAS Commissioner for Security, Peace and Political Affairs, Amb. Abdel Fatau Musah said the Chiefs of Defence Staff “have come up with a concept of operation for an eventual military intervention to restore democracy in Niger which will be sent to the heads of state.”
“All the elements have been worked out including how and when we are going to deploy. We are guided by our protocols including zero tolerance for coups. And if the coups are not stopped today, nobody knows when it is going to end.”
“There is a steeler determination by ECOWAS leaders with President Bola Tinubu as Chairman to ensure that we do not have any democratic reversals in our region. We are determined to stop it.
“ECOWAS is not going to tell the coup plotters when we are going to strike. That will be left to the authorities of the heads of state. But war is not an option of choice. It is a last resort. So we are giving them every opportunity to reverse and restore democracy. With the steely determination of ECOWAS heads of state, we will make them hand over to civilian administration.”
Speaking also, Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana commended the Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS countries for yielding to the call to safeguard democracy in the sub-region adding that Nigeria, especially President Bola Tinubu, is committed to ensuring that, “we restore peace, democracy in Niger.
“Though military intervention is the last option, we are waiting for the call from the authority of heads of state to move out the armed forces by land, sea and air. Once the order comes we will move.”
Meanwhile, there have been appeals from eminent personalities urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and ECOWAS to jettison the military option.
The latest appeal to reconsider the use of force in Niger Republic came from the Northern Senators Forum.
The Forum has cautioned the Economic Commission of West Africa State (ECOWAS) under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, against the use of military force in restoring democracy in Niger Republic.
The Sen. Abdul Ahmad Ningi (Bauchi) led lawmakers, however, called for political and diplomatic means to restore democratic government in the Sahel country.
The forum, in a statement by its spokesperson, Suleiman A. Kawu Sumaila, warned that military force will lead to the death of many innocent citizens in Niger Republic and seven Nigerian states that share border with that country.
“We take exception to use of the of military force until other avenues as mentioned above are exhausted as the consequences will be casualties among the innocent citizens who go about their daily business.
“Besides, about seven northern states that share border with Niger Republic namely Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno will be negatively affected.
“There is serious implication for our country, if military force is used without exhausting all diplomatic channels,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the military junta in Niger has vowed to stoutly resist any attempt to use force against their country.
