Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, has advised the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against resorting to military intervention in Niger Republic.
The ECOWAS Chairperson, President Bola Tinubu, indicated that the organisation might employ force if Niger’s coup leaders do not restore power to ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
Following a defence chiefs meeting in Accra, ECOWAS initiated preparations for its standby force in Niger, with a preference for dialogue, but details of a potential military intervention have been outlined.
El-Rufai conveyed his concerns via a tweet on Tuesday, underscoring the fraternal implications of a regional conflict.
” 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.
“Indeed, the people of Niger Republic are one and the same with those living in Northern Nigeria. Let us bend therefore over backwards to avoid this civil war between brothers.”
The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) similarly urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritize diplomatic avenues in resolving the crisis.
The forum cautioned against deploying Nigerian troops to Niger Republic, emphasizing potential negative impacts on seven northern states: Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe, and Borno, all of which share borders with the landlocked West African nation.
