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The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has cautioned the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) against proceeding with the planned military action in Niger Republic.
The neighbouring West African country has come under the microscope since the ouster of the democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum, from power by his own guard on July 26, 2023.
The putsch was the third to be carried out in the region in as many years following the takeovers in Mali and Burkina Faso.
The development prompted ECOWAS, under the chairmanship of President Bola Tinubu, to impose a wide range of sanctions on the Niger Republic to force a return to constitutional order in the country.
The sanctions announced during an extraordinary meeting of the ECOWAS in Abuja on July 30, 2023, include the closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger.
The regional body leaders also agreed to establish a no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger and suspend all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Niger.
In addition, ECOWAS also threatened that military action would be taken against the military junta of Niger Republic if they failed to restore President Bazoum within one week.
Atiku cautions against military hostilities
But, Atiku in a tweet on the evening of Thursday, August 3, 2023, Atiku expressed his disapproval of using military hostilities in Niger, which he said may exacerbate the situation.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate suggested that the ongoing diplomatic engagements should be deepened while the channels for dialogue should be well sustained.
“The military intervention in the Republic of Niger has created tension across the West Africa sub-region, and it is a development that has caused international attention to that neighbouring country of ours.
“The putsch is even more worrisome because the number of states that have witnessed military intervention in the last three years in the subregion is increasing,” he said.
However, the former Vice President commended Nigeria and ECOWAS for the leadership roles they're playing in resolving the crisis.
“Of course, the world expects Nigeria to take up leadership in ensuring that the crisis of political leadership in the Republic of Niger is not just curtailed but also ensuring the restoration of democratic governance in that country.
“While the expectations that fall on Nigeria as the sub-regional leader is not a quick fix, it must be expressed that the role taken so far by the Economic Community of West African States has been commendable,” Atiku added.
He noted that "As the ECOWAS continues to work towards reinstating democracy in the Republic of Niger, it must be reinforced that the regional body should not travel the road of military hostilities that may exacerbate the status quo. The crisis in the Republic of Niger requires diplomatic engagements, and that must mean that the channels for dialogue should be well sustained.
“While the world expects Nigeria to take a leading role in this process of peaceful conflict resolution, it must be clear to the military insurrectionists in the Republic of Niger that the world cannot afford to wait for too long before this crisis is resolved reasonably.
“This is undoubtedly a challenging time for the West African region. However, any actions taken towards the prompt resolution of the crisis in the Republic of Niger must prioritize democracy as the ultimate victor,” Atiku maintained.
Earlier in the day, Tinubu dispatched a delegation to the Niger Republic with a mandate to expeditiously resolve the current political impasse in the country.
According to a statement by Special Adviser to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, the delegation, headed by former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd), left for Niamey on Thursday following a briefing by the President at the State House in Abuja.