Don’t Approve Military Action Against Niger – Shehu Sani Tells Senate

Former Kaduna Federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani has called on the Nigerian Senate not to approve any military action against Niger Republic.

West African regional bloc, ECOWAS under the Chairmanship of President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria had last Sunday, given a seven-day ultimatum to the military junta of Niger, who seized power on July 26 to return the country to constitutional order or face possible military intervention.

This is in addition to sanctions slammed on the restive West African nation by ECOWAS.

As the deadline of the ECOWAS ultimatum ends today, there have been fears that the regional body under Tinubu’s watch will deploy military action in the country given that the coup leaders have refused to relinquish power and free detained President, Mohamed Bazoum.

The fears have also been heightened given that four countries – Mali, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, and Guinea have threatened military alignment against any country that invades the Niger Republic.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Shehu Sani, who is also the President of the Civil Rights Congress and human rights activist, said Nigeria should not be plunged into war and “eventually stuck in a war in the Sahel.”

He urged Tinubu not to be misled by foreign powers.

To buttress the effect of war, he cited the examples of countries in war as Saudi in Yemen, America in Afghanistan, and Russia in Ukraine, adding that, “that should teach us a lesson that war doesn’t end in days, weeks or months.”

Sani wrote, “Senators should weigh the implications and consequences of their decisions, especially those senators representing states along the Niger Border.

“Weaponising electricity supplies to Niger is also condemnable.
President Tinubu should continue to explore diplomatic channels and save the lives of those who will be sacrificed. That’s my view.”

Meanwhile, Kanyi Daily reported that members of the ECOWAS delegation dispatched to the Niger Republic by Tinubu left Niamey, the country’s capital without meeting the leader of the junta which seized power in a coup.

Tinubu in his capacity as ECOWAS chairman dispatched the delegation on Thursday with a mandate to resolve the current political impasse in the West African restive nation.