Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has vehemently opposed the planned military intervention in Niger Republic to reinstate the ousted civilian president, Mohammed Bazoum, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to avoid engaging Nigeria, in its current socioeconomic state, in “such a costly intervention.”
CUPP expressed this concern on Saturday in a press release signed by its Co-National Spokesperson, Comrade Mark Adebayo, copy of which was made available to newsmen, saying rather it is in support of any diplomatic efforts by the West African subregion to resolve the Nigerien impasse, and not military intervention, which amounted to taking the matter that “would fail catastrophically” too far.
The group, while making the call, declared pointedly that it was not only unnecessary but absolutely thoughtless for Nigeria to contemplate intervening militarily in the internal affairs of another country when the security situation in her own territory remained a serious challenge, noting that the Nigerian military had been overstretched over the years battling terrorism and all manners of insurgency that were still very active and draining the country’s resources to the tune of billions of naira weekly.
“It has come to our notice the preparations by Nigeria and some other West African countries for a military intervention in Niger Republic ostensibly to reinstate the overthrown civilian government in the country.
“First, Nigeria, in its current socioeconomic state cannot afford such a costly intervention. The Nigerian military have been overstretched over the years battling terrorism and all manners of insurgency that are still very active and draining the country’s resources to the tune of billions of Naira weekly.
“It is not only unnecessary but absolutely thoughtless for Nigeria to contemplate intervening militarily in the internal affairs of another country when the security situation in our own country remains a serious challenge to our military and other security agencies with an economy that is currently, at best, sick,” the group said.
CUPP argued that the planned military intervention was neither a war that Nigeria can afford nor win, especially in the face of the overwhelming popularity of the coup among the generality of Nigerian populace, pointing out that any military intervention without the support of the people of Niger was dead on arrival as it was glaring that the coup that toppled President Mohammed Bazoum was a widely popular one.
According to CUPP, Nigeria cannot afford to waste its dwindling resources and the precious Iives of her soldiers fighting an unnecessary war that it can ill-afford, urging that she should rather concentrate on healing herself instead of looking for trouble in another country, just as it quickly declared that the sick cannot treat the sick.
The group reiterated its support for any diplomatic efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to resolve the Nigerien impasse rather than engaging in a military intervention, saying “whatever resources are being put together to fight in another man’s country should be put to better use for Nigeria to alleviate the suffering of the people under this unfriendly economy rather than be frittered away in a war that doesn’t really concern us when we have our own wars internally that we haven’t overcome.”
“Nigeria and other West African countries desirous of reinstating democracy in Niger Republic should rather deploy their diplomatic assets with possible collaboration of the international community to amicably resolve the situation in Niger Republic without military action and without a single drop of blood
“President Bola Tinubu should avoid plunging Nigeria’s fragile economy into more depression by intervening militarily in another country,” the group warned.
“Even if diplomatic channels have been exhausted, Nigeriens should be allowed to run their country as they deem fit even though we support the survival of democracy based on good governance in Africa. You can’t force people against their own will to do what they don’t consider it’s in their best interests.
“Nigeria should leave Niger alone to determine its own present and future. Whatever interventions are being contemplated should remain within the purview of Diplomacy – no more, no less,” it concluded.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then