Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna, has issued a cautionary statement directed at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), advising against military intervention in Niger Republic.
President Bola Tinubu, who chairs ECOWAS, had indicated that the organization was considering the use of force as a last resort if the leaders of the recent coup in Niger do not restore power to ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
After discussions among the bloc’s defense chiefs in Accra, ECOWAS disclosed that it had initiated the activation of its standby force in Niger.
READ ALSO: Nigerians protest in Kano against proposed military intervention following Niger Coup
El-Rufai used Dire Straits song to emphasize his point
The defense chiefs acknowledged the importance of dialogue in mediating the situation, while also revealing that preparations for a potential military intervention were in progress.
This involved refining details such as timing, required resources, deployment strategies, and locations.
El-Rufai expressed his concerns through a tweet, evoking the classic rock song “Brothers in Arms” by Dire Straits from the 1970s.
He specifically said:
“As ECOWAS beats the drums of war, I recall the 1970s rock classic by Dire Straits – ‘Brothers in Arms’, because a war within our subregion is a war between brothers,”
He drew parallels between the song’s theme of unity among comrades and the situation at hand.
El-Rufai highlighted the shared identity between the people of Niger Republic and those residing in Northern Nigeria, urging measures to prevent a potential fraternal civil conflict.
This perspective by El-Rufai resonates with sentiments expressed by various stakeholders in Northern Nigeria.
NSF also said no to military intervention
The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) also advised President Tinubu to prioritize diplomatic channels in resolving the crisis.
The NSF emphasized that deploying Nigerian troops to Niger Republic could have adverse repercussions for the neighboring northern states such as Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe, and Borno.
In response to the warning, President Tinubu initiated consultations with governors from five states, seeking a comprehensive strategy to effectively address the situation without resorting to military intervention.
Kalu opposes ECOWAS military intervention in Niger
In another news, former Abia State Governor and current Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, has expressed his opposition to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) using military force to restore democracy in Niger.
The democratically elected president of Niger was overthrown in a military coup on July 27, leading to concerns about the situation.
Kalu stated that Nigeria should not participate in ECOWAS’ plan for a military intervention, emphasizing that Nigerian soldiers shouldn’t lose their lives in another country’s conflict.
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