By Alex Abutu
Today, as you read this, the deadline given to the Militants in Niger Republic would have been over and possibly ECOWAS forces, led by Nigeria, would have taken position to chase the military out of the state house in Niger.
Since the Coup occurred in Niger and all the utterances that followed from Big Brother Nigeria, the question that I keep asking myself is ‘do we as a country have the moral right to command the juntas to relinquish power?’ What justification do we have to lead ECOWAS troops to compel the young military in Niger Republic to restore the former President?
I will start by saying that our President and Commander-in-Chief, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu who happens to be the President of ECOWAS Heads of State and government, was too hasty in threatening the militants in Niger.
He has not taken any time to study the relationship and existing agreements that Nigeria has with Niger. He is busy threatening fire and brimstone forgetting that Niger is a sovereign nation, although a small country when compared to Nigeria but that does not give any one the power to forcefully interfere in the affairs of that nation.
The jubilation and celebration by all ages since the junta took over power in the country should have pointed ECOWAS and the Nigerian President to the simple fact that the people are not complaining. They came out on the streets to celebrate the arrival of the military.
It reminded me of a similar celebration in which I participated, although I was very young at the time on the streets of Otukpo, when Buhari led other military guys to overthrow the government of President Shehu Shagari.
Niger is a very strategic nation to Nigeria on many fronts. The hydroelectricity we enjoy today is because Niger agreed to cooperate with us not to Dam the River Niger upstream.
More importantly, we have mingled with citizens of Niger so much that in some areas around the borderline, it’s just a mere road that differentiates between both countries.
The federal government’s investment on the Nigeria/Niger corridor is not something we want to just throw away just because the powers that impoverish Niger and continue to loot its natural resources are breathing down our necks.
This week a publication by Reason.com, a US based online media, noted that the US who prides itself as the global democratic police is just watching the situation in Niger and are confident that Nigeria will do its bidding over there. Another newspaper in France, one of the most credible and largest, also in an article said France had spoken to Nigeria to ensure the ousted President is restored and that France is confident Nigeria will see to that.
The Biden administration’s reluctance to label the overthrow a coup is unsurprising considering the United States’ significant security commitment to Niger.
Presently, Niger hosts 1,100 U.S. troops, an increase of 900 percent since 2013. Those troops train and support Nigerien soldiers and run a $110 million drone base, which the Nigerien junta has restricted. The U.S. has invested $158 million in arms sales and $122 million in security assistance to Niger since the Trump administration began.
The U.S. has wanted to have a role in West Africa largely because of great power competition. Because of that, Niger is one of a few countries that receive a lot of U.S. military assistance. The U.S. is unlikely to call it a coup because once it does, that assistance has to freeze.
Today, Nigeria is standing as a regional leader to compel the junta return the ousted President to power. It would be good to know why Nigeria has never taken steps to ensure that Niger and other West African French colonies are liberated from the grips of France? Niger does not have oil or gas deposits, but they have Uranium, which is one of the basic components of all cell phones manufactured today, but what do they have to show for it?
My sincere advice to Mr President is, allow the people to liberate themselves from the shackles of this modern day slavery led by France. Take a critical look at the situation unfolding in the West African sub-region and flow with the tide.
The people are tired of the exploitative nature of France, their eyes are now open and they have taken their destinies into their hands. Mali and Burkina Faso are standing strongly with Niger. From Aso Rock, that might not mean anything but note that the day the little boy down the street summons the courage to insult you, it is because someone is standing behind him. I hope Mr. Tinubu’s reign as ECOWAS President will not be the time when those who have been trying tirelessly to destroy the West African subregion, through insurgency and armed militias, will have legitimacy.