By Damilare Adeleye
President Bola Tinubu has said that military action remains the last option for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore democratic rule in Niger Republic.
The President, who is also the Chairman of the West African bloc, said this while receiving the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs led by Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto, at the State House.
President Tinubu noted that the alternative of kinetic intervention in the Niger Republic had not been jettisoned.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President.
Tinubu insisted that any forceful removal of a democratic government remains “wholly unacceptable.”
He said: “I must thank you for your several visits to Niger Republic, Your Eminence, but you will still have to go back. My fear has been confirmed in Gabon that copycats will start doing the same thing until it is stopped. We are neighbours with Niger Republic, and what has joined Nigerians together with their great people cannot be broken.
“Nobody is interested in a war. We have seen the devastation in Ukraine and Sudan. But, if we don’t wield the big stick, we will all suffer the consequences together,” the President warned.
President Tinubu noted that Nigeria, under General Abdulsalami Abubakar, instituted a nine-month transition programme in 1998, and it proved very successful, leading the country into a new era of democratic governance.
The President said he sees no reason why such cannot be replicated in Niger if Niger’s military authorities are sincere.
“Your Eminence, please don’t get tired, you will still go back there. The soldiers’ action is unacceptable. The earlier they make positive adjustments, the quicker we will dial back the sanctions to alleviate the sufferings we are seeing in Niger,” the President affirmed.
On the hardship faced by many Nigerians post-fuel subsidy removal, the President assured that all ongoing reforms will liberate and reposition the economy, which will benefit the majority of the population in terms of opportunities, infrastructure, healthcare and education.
“Nigeria is headed for a promise. Our diversity will turn into prosperity, not adversity. We will build a country that our children will be proud of.”
The President told the delegation that the Federal Government had opened talks with State Governments to provide land for the proper sustenance of animals with a view to developing pan-national animal husbandry and agro-allied production and processing facilities for mass export, job creation and revenue generation.
He added: “If Nigeria is still looking for vaccines for basic health issues; if infant and maternal mortality is rampant, then we should examine ourselves. I will commit to consulting with other leaders, like the NSCIA, and we will meet the needs of our people.”