In a bid to address the ongoing political crisis in the Niger Republic, Nigerian Senators have advised President Bola Tinubu to rule out the option of military intervention and instead pursue diplomatic solutions. Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central, who serves as the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, shared this perspective during an interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today.”
As per Channels Television on Thursday, August 10, 2023, Senator Ningi highlighted the significance of adhering to constitutional procedures before deploying the Nigerian Armed Forces for any military operation. He emphasized that there must be a joint sitting of the National Assembly to authorize such an action. He stated, “For him to ask the Nigerian Armed Forces to go into a war, there needs to be a joint sitting, not only the Senate but the National Assembly.”
He further disclosed that President Tinubu had sent a letter detailing the situation within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), seeking the Senate’s opinion. In response, the Senators clearly communicated their stance that military intervention, including the option of war, should be excluded from the table. The Senators commended ECOWAS for its efforts in resolving the crisis and expressed their opposition to coup-related activities.
Senator Ningi expressed that the history and close relationship between Nigeria and Niger underscore the importance of pursuing peaceful solutions. He emphasized the shared ties and cultural affinity between the two nations, which date back centuries. The use of the naira as legal tender in the Niger Republic further illustrates the depth of their connection.
The Senator underscored that alternative methods should be employed to address the issues posed by the coup plotters rather than resorting to military force. This stance echoes the sentiment shared by many within the Nigerian Senate, who advocate for diplomatic means to resolve the crisis.
Meanwhile, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convened an extraordinary summit in Abuja on Thursday to address the political crisis in the Niger Republic. As part of their resolutions, ECOWAS ordered the deployment of the bloc’s standby force to restore constitutional order in the troubled West African nation. Additionally, ECOWAS called on the African Union to endorse its decisions regarding the situation in Niger.
In light of these developments, the West African bloc also cautioned member states against actions that could hinder the peaceful resolution of the crisis, emphasizing the potential consequences of such actions.
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