Editorial Opinion
President Tinubu Must Not Send Nigerian Soldiers On ECOWAS Invasion of Republic Of Niger
Apart from other five African countries that had been under military coup induced governments, the recent coup in the Republic of Niger appears quite peculiar in the reaction of ECOWAS leaders, especially Nigeria.
Presently, the following countries are under military government.
1. Mali – Since August 2020
2. Chad – Since April 2021
3. Guinea Since September 2021
4. Sudan – Since October 2021
5. Burkina Faso – Since January 2022
6. Niger – Since July 2023
A common thread of similarity runs through these African countries that are presently under military governments – they are all former French colonies.
The Republic of Niger became the third West African nation, fourth French colony and the most recent military coup victim on July 26, 2023.
In July 2018, Nigeria and Niger Republic signed a $2bn deal to build an oil pipeline and a refinery, to be mostly financed by Nigeria.
Former president Buhari planned to build a $1.9bn railway line from Kano in the northwest of Nigeria to Maradi in south-central Niger. The projects are part of Buhari’s idea of ‘concentric circles’ of Nigeria’s foreign policy to concentrate on its immediate neighbours in the West African region, African continent and finally the global world.
Apart from Nigeria, which other member state of ECOWAS has investments in the Republic of Niger? None!
Niger is a leading supplier of uranium to the European Union and produces around 5% of the world’s supply of the mineral, according to the World Nuclear Association.
Nigeria must be wary of the role of South Africa and its president, Cyril Ramaphosa, in the unfolding ‘drama’ in Niger. It is an open secret that Ramaphosa and Russian president, Putin, are very close friends – with Ramaphosa acting as the arrowhead of Putin’s policies on the African continent.
Interestingly, as the coup was unfolding in Niger, Russian President, Vladimir Putin, was holding a meeting with African leaders at a summit in St. Petersburg, where he railed against Western colonialism and wooed attendees with gifts, including debt relief for Somalia, a mobile medical laboratory for Uganda and a presidential helicopter for the leader of Zimbabwe! Are these meant to spite and intimidate Nigeria?
The Nigerien coup occured within the context of a wider struggle between the West and Russia for influence in Africa. International relations experts say there is a rising tide of anger in former French colonies which have left the door open for Russia. While there is no sign that Russia helped instigate Niger’s rebellion, Moscow has sought to take advantage of anti-Western sentiments around the region in recent years, and to send in Russian mercenary group, Wagner, which help to prop up several military juntas in the region, and could seek to exploit the crisis in Niger. Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has celebrated the coup and has offered help to Niger’s new leaders.
Is the blood of any Nigerian soldier worth being spilled for ousted Nigerien President, Mohamed Bazoum? No!
President Tinubu should not be goaded by ECOWAS leaders into sending Nigerian troops to the Republic of Niger.
The national assembly does not necessarily need to approve president Tinubu’s letter and request to send troops to Niger. After all, he did not consult the assembly for its approval before ordering that power supply to Niger be cut off. The national assembly should unequivocally stop president Tinubu from sending Nigerian soldiers to Niger.
As for Nigerian investments in Niger, the Federal Government should immediately stop funding those projects.
Also, the Kano-Marada railway project should be stopped as part of sanctions on Niger’s military leaders.
Still on Nigeria’s past intervention in Liberia, Sierra Leone and South Africa; what are the benefits to Nigeria from past interventions?
Nigeria has never really being appreciated for its sacrifices and interventions in Africa. Our citizens have been victims of deliberate xenophobic attacks in South Africa – a nation that Nigeria supported both morally and financially through the apartheid years until late Nelson Mandela was elected president in 1994.
The financial burden of sponsoring an ECOWAS intervention military will be borne by Nigeria – with other ECOWAS leaders running under Nigeria’s shadow of big brother.
President Tinubu should lead the ECOWAS to high level diplomatic negotiations with Nigerien military leaders, rather than apply military intervention. Nigeria should focus on protecting our neighbouring states that border Niger, and not expose them to attacks from other French colonies who are presently under military government and in cahoot with the Nigerien military leaders. This is the way to go.