Residents of Katsina State under the auspices of the Katsina-Daura Unity and Progress Forum on Saturday called on the Federal Government to desist from supporting any aggression towards the Republic of Niger and its people.
Doing so according to the residents is in effect undertaking a proxy war for NATO and its allies. It argued that such action will negatively affect people mostly those living in the northern states of Nigeria.
The residents while reiterating their stand on the political situation in the Niger Republic believe that the best antidote against coups is good governance, founded on the basis of free fair, and credible elections.
The Forum after carefully reviewing the efforts and responses of the Heads of State of ECOWAS to resolve the ongoing tension, said the steps taken by ECOWAS, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, might lead to instability in the region.
The Acting President of the Forum, Tukur Malami in a press conference held in Katsina, maintained that supporting any aggression towards the Republic of Niger and its people amounts to a self-inflicted injury by the Federal Government.
The Forum further called Tinubu to turn attention inward and address the lingering troubles of insecurity, kidnapping, poverty, and corruption which have made life in Nigeria quite unbearable.
According to the Forum, concerted efforts should rather be further intensified in addressing the key security challenges pervading all over the country, adding that Tinubu should remember that he is first and foremost the President of Nigeria before becoming the leader of ECOWAS.
The Forum, however, commended the governors of states sharing a common border with the Republic of Niger, especially Governor Dikko Umar Radda, and the northern senators’ caucus.
It thus called on all governors, members of the national and state assemblies, traditional, and religious leaders, and the general public to stand up stoutly against a war declaration.
The Forum also called on ECOWAS to review its decisions thoroughly, stop taking half-hearted measures for peace and accept that the initial resolutions are not good enough for peaceful rapprochement.
“We should note that our national interests will be most affected when we violate the existing bilateral agreement with the Republic of Niger while our security will also be threatened.
“We are gathered to express the Forum’s stand on the political situation in the Republic of Niger, as per the recent resolution of ECOWAS and the implication on the peace and stability of Nigeria and Niger, in particular, and the West African sub-region in general.
“We wish to unequivocally reject any intention, resolution or declaration
by anybody (country or organization), under whichever guise, to militarily invade the Republic of Niger in order to restore democracy, because it is poorly thought of, ill-conceived, and deliberately designed to cause more harm than good, not only to the Nigeriens but also on the people living in the Northern States of Nigeria who inhabit the long stretch of the international border spanning Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, and Borno States.
“The open declaration of support from Mali, Burking Faso, and Guinea, as well as Algeria (outside ECOWAS), is an indication that ECOWAS has not done its homework properly, but rather a hasty decision to unleash the destruction of the country and the neighbouring Northern Nigerian states, and the involvement of other countries for and against, will eventually turn into a prolonged, widespread war for the whole Sahel region.
“Already our region is awash with uncontrolled gun trade, banditry, and insurrection, thus giving the arms manufacturing nations of NATO, USA, and Russia the fertile grounds to freely test the capacities of their weapons.
“The Forum wonders, if ever the Federal Government of Nigeria has considered the long-standing relationship between the two nations before spearheading this unfortunate misadventure.
“Notwithstanding that the ECOWAS has reviewed its ultimatum on military action, it is noteworthy that the amassment of troops and military hardware on stand-by is still an intimidation and a threat to the Republic of Niger, which is likely to hinder any diplomatic progress for peace understanding and reconciliation of the stand-off situation,” Malami added.
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