Niger coup: Adopt option of diplomacy, not military, Afenifere urges ECOWAS

The Pan Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, on Thursday, condemned the recent coup in the Niger Republic, saying there is no justifiable reason for such an undemocratic act.

The group stated this at the end of its monthly meeting at the Isanya Ogbo, Ogun state, country home of the leader of the group, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, advised the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) to thread softly in its intervention on the issue by adopting the option of diplomacy.

This group in its communique signed by its Secretary General, Chief Sola Ebiseni, stated that “the meeting reiterated the abhorrence of the Afenifere to any undemocratic access to power either through the barrels of the gun or electoral brigandage.

“We hold it as evidently true that military coup and any form of subversion of the constitution and the electoral process as a means of access to power are equal and mutually antithetical to democracy.

“Afenifere condemned unreservedly, the current military takeover of the Government of the Republic of Niger and declared that there is no justifiable reason for such an undemocratic act.

“That is the same manner in which the removal of oil subsidy was announced and currently plunged the nation into a myriad of socioeconomic problems, the cavalier and hasty decision by the ECOWAS to intervene in the internal affairs of Niger not excluding the possibility of the military option, has further submerged Nigeria in needless crises affecting the socio-economic fabric of the nation.

“That while Afenifere believes that Nigeria cannot afford to stand aloof on matters affecting the stability and peace of the West African sub-region, nay Africa, it owes overriding duty to the national interests of Nigeria and her citizens.

“That Nigeria and Niger are not only culturally interrelated but also socioeconomically interdependent. Thus any armed conflict in Niger will have harmful effects on Nigeria.

“That Nigeria can ill-afford the price of war in Niger with costs in money, materials and men and collateral damage to the ancient and sustained relationships between our countries.

“Without much ado, Afenifere calls on the ECOWAS to adopt the option of diplomacy in dealing with the issue in the Republic of Niger.

“Afenifere strongly urged the Nigerien military to see the illegality and futility of usurping the sovereignty of the people of Niger to democratically decide who rules them and immediately return to the path of constitutionality which restricts their duty to the defence of the territorial integrity of the Nigerien state.

The group also condemned the large number of new ministers recently nominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the number should be trimmed down considering the economic situation of the country.

Afenifere stated that the group “condemns as most unconscionable that a government pleading for understanding and sacrifices from the people, the aftermath of a sudden and harsh removal of petrol subsidy and other cowboy economic policies would present such unprecedented humongous list of 48 ministers and other such appointments for political appeasement in search of legitimacy.

” Afenifere noted that it is most bizarre that the overwhelming majority of Nigerians whose daily preoccupation is how to eke a living and sometimes lay their heads wherever their tired limbs are bent are subjected to the spectacle of opulence and irresponsibility by their political leaders.

“That it is painful that Nigerians are saddled with a parliament that is powerless in the face of this executive rascality the likes that make the hapless people see no difference and jump on the streets singing praises of unconstitutional power adventurers.

“That this interim period in the political life of the country has further abysmally exposed the pretences and hypocrisy of those who have often paid lip service to progressive inclinations as rapacious power mongers without a thought for the people”

That the current comedy of errors in the governance of Nigeria is unprecedented and calls for so much concern of all compatriots that silence may be inadvertently interpreted as complicity, which is not in the character of Afenifere.

The communique read further “The meeting affirmed and reiterated the historic position of Afenifere as a political group and the rallying platform for social welfarist progressive ideals inexorably committed to the greatest good of the greatest number of Nigerians and invariably the conscience of the Nigerian state.

“Recalled that when Nigeria at infancy was in the wilderness and even colonialist Britain in search of the requisite political structure that best suited its vast, diverse and polyglot territory, Afenifere founding fathers provided federalism as the veritable compass and path to freedom, peace and progress of the emerging giant of Africa.

“Through thick and thin even in the days of military dictatorship, the voice of Afenifere not only resonated in the wilderness but courageously led from the front that the way of the federation be kept straight and back to democracy and true federalism.

“Our founding fathers did not see being in the opposition as a hindrance but a veritable tool to doing good in the interests of the people.

“Thus as Nigerians eagerly await the courts for the fearless and just determination of the true holder of their sacred mandate, Afenifere is further resolved that no person or group of persons shall hold the reins of power, even for one day, except in the proven interest of Nigeria in their peaceful, prosperous and harmonious diversity.

“That the current comedy of errors in the governance of Nigeria is unprecedented and calls for so many concerns of all compatriots that silence may be inadvertently interpreted as complicity, which is not in the character of Afenifere”

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