Niger crisis: Senate votes for political, diplomatic solution
The Senate is set to meet with President Bola Tinubu to work out ways of resolving the impasse in Niger Republic. The Red Chamber decided yesterday that political and diplomatic options would serve all parties better in view of the age-long relationship between Abuja and Niamey.The Senate position was shared by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, Jama’atu Nasri-Islam (JNI) and the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG).
The Senators, who took time off their screening of ministerial nominees to consider the President’s letter in which he intimated the Red Chamber of the action taken by Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore democracy in Niger, also called for suggestions from ECOWAS Parliament on how to settle the crisis.
But it said that contrary to the apprehension expressed in some quarters, Tinubu did not seek its approval to go to war in that country.
The Senators, according to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, resolved as follows: “The Senate condemns in totality the military coup that took place recently in the Republic of Niger.
“The Senate commends President Bola Tinubu and other Heads of States and Governments of ECOWAS for their prompt response to the positions taken on the unfortunate development in Nigeria
“The Senate recognises the fact that President Tinubu, by virtue of his correspondence had not asked for the approval of the parliament or the approval of this Senate to go to war as being erroneously suggested in some quarters.
“Rather, Mr President, as the Commander-in-Chief, had expressed a wish to respectively solicit the support of the National Assembly in the successful implementation of ECOWAS resolutions 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 the political and diplomatic options and other means with a view to resolving the political impasse in Niger Republic.
“The National Assembly told the ECOWAS leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resolve the political situation in Niger and return 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 National Assembly on how best to resolve the issues in view of the hitherto existing cordial relationships 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 towards resolving this impasse as soon as possible.”
JNI warns ECOWAS, others against military action
The influential Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) made a similar plea yesterday, urging caution by ECOWAS and foreign countries in dealing with the Nigerien coupists.
Secretary General of JNI, Professor Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, in a statement in Kaduna, urged the government and other stakeholders involved to prioritise more diplomatic and political conciliation, and collective efforts on the matter.
It expressed deep concern over the seizure of power from President Bozoum through military coup in Niger Republic and hailed the efforts so far taken by Nigeria, especially the dialogue approach.
It said: “While this attempt may not have yielded the desired results, it demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to peaceful resolutions.”
It added: “We acknowledge that dialogue is an invaluable tool in preventing further bloodshed and instability within the Sahel Region already beclouded with many political and security uncertainties.
“Nevertheless, we wish to raise a word of caution against the pursuit of military action as a means to restore democracy. 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 Republic, military intervention could have unintended consequences that may impact the peace and stability of both nations.”
The JNI enjoined all stakeholders to “prioritise more diplomatic and political conciliation and collective efforts to the crisis,” stressing that dialogue, cooperation and negotiation are the most effective means to establish lasting peace and stability in the region.
Continuing, it said: “It is equally essential that the international community, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) continues to engage in peaceful diplomatic discussions aimed at finding a resolution please.
“In these challenging times, we urge all faithful believers to turn to Allah in prayer, seeking His merciful intervention to guide leaders toward wise decisions and a peaceful resolution. Let us pray together for the restoration of peace and order, the protection of human rights, and the well-being of the people of Nigeria and Niger Republic.”
PDP Govs to FG: Don’t go to war with Niger Republic
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum also discussed the Niger crisis at a meeting in Abuja yesterday and asked the Federal Government to resist the temptation of resorting to arms to resolve the issue.
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,” they said in a communique.
Exhaust economic, diplomatic options first, CNG tells FG
On its part, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) said military intervention in Niger “must be an absolutely last option for Nigeria, given our own present domestic fragility.”
The group in a statement by its spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said the Federal Government should exhaust “economic and diplomatic means to pressure the junta in Niger to return power to the democratically elected government.”
It described the unfolding event in Niger as a “sinister international power game” with Western powers on one hand, Russia and China on another hand, and some other African countries playing behind the scene.
It said Nigeria should not leave room for the situation to degenerate to a level where any military intervention in Niger would be resisted and considered as an invasion by Russia/China, Mali and Burkina Faso, which could get very messy and protracted.
It said any war in Niger “will engulf the entire West African sub-region and bring about mass killings and suffering of innocent people,” leaving residents of seven northern Nigerian states that share border with Niger Republic, namely Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno, badly affected.
Customs solicits border communities’ cooperation
The Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, on a visit to Katsina State yesterday, asked for the cooperation of communities close to Nigeria’s borders with Niger Republic following the border closure.
He told Deputy Governor Farouk Lawal, who stood in for Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, that the border closure was in the best interest of the country and not designed to run down the businesses of Nigerians.
He emphasised that while implementing the closure of Jibia border, the service would also devote energy to sensitise members of the communities on the reason behind the decision.
France reaffirms support for ECOWAS on moves against Nigerien coupists
France, the former colonial master of Niger, yesterday restated its support for ECOWAS member states on their efforts to restore democracy in that country.
French Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonna, who met in Paris with Niger Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou and the Niger ambassador in Paris Aichatou Boulama Kane, said ECOWAS gave the putschists a seven-day deadline to end their coup and reaffirmed France’s full support for President Bazoum, elected by the Nigerien people, and his government, who are the one and only legitimate authorities in Niger.
She said: “France strongly and firmly supports ECOWAS’s efforts to defeat this coup attempt. The future of Niger and the stability of the entire region as ECOWAS gave the putschists a seven-day deadline to end their coup.
“It expires tomorrow, Sunday, August 6. France solemnly calls on those responsible for this coup attempt to release President Bazoum and all members of his government, and to allow the immediate return to constitutional and democratic order.”
U.S. suspends aid to Niger as ECOWAS deadline looms
The United States on Friday partially suspended aid to Niger as military coup leaders in the country faced today’s deadline issued by ECOWAS to relinquish power.
The U.S. State Department announced the move in response to the coup.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasised that while some forms of assistance are being cut, humanitarian assistance would continue.
“This interim measure does not impact all U.S. foreign assistance programmes in Niger. Most importantly, the provision of life-saving humanitarian and food assistance will continue,” he said in a statement.
Libya’s Menfi receives Tinubu’s letter on Niger
The Head of Libya’s Presidential Council, Mohammed Menfi, yesterday received a letter from President Tinubu on the situation in Niger.
The letter,according to The Libya Observer, was delivered by Special Envoy Babagana Kingibe.
Kingibe briefed Menfi on the decisions of ECOWAS that convened in Abuja on July 30 and the commitment not to recognize the unconstitutional change of the elected regimes.
The Libyan leader stressed the importance of rallying efforts of Niger’s other neighbouring countries-Libya, Algeria and Chad with those of ECOWAS to achieve normalcy in Niger.
