FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Let me ask a hypothetical question:
If and God forbids it, what happened in Niger Republic were to happen in Nigeria or Ghana, can ECOWAS even think of activating it’s standing Force to invade Nigeria or Ghana and restore democratic rule?
Where will they get the troops to fight against the formidable, powerful, well organized and structured Nigerian or Ghanian military and who will raise and fund expedition? .
The ECOWAS should not start something it can’t finish or sustain. It’s wrong to even think of going to war with any of it’s member States on account of a regime change, so long as it has not affected the political order in other States in the Community
The solution to the political conundrum in Niger Republic is not war (even as a last resort) but diplomacy, dialogue, broad based consultation and strategic engagement and negotiation, involving all layers and strata of engagement in, around and even outside Niger Republic
And if the ECOWAS forces invade Niger Republic, it’s only natural that Niger will defend itself and also launch an attack of it’s own against the ECOWAS countries nearest to it
In such circumstances, Nigeria being the closest contiguous neighbour of Niger on many fronts, will be the natural target of attack by Niger Republic and of course, it’s the Northern part of Nigeria that will take the bullet for the rest of the ECOWAS member States
How can a war be waged against a country without consequences on the civilian population, who were not themselves responsible for the coup?
Yusuf Shehu Usman, mni
Abuja
12/08/2023