The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has advised the Heads of state of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dialogue with the military leadership in Niger Republic and not use force.
This was contained in a statement issued by the ACF Secretary General, Murtala Aliyu on Thursday.
While condemning the military coup in the Niger Republic, the ACF joined the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and ECOWAS to condemn in strong terms the 26th July 2023 military coup d’etat in the Republic of Niger led by Brigadier General Abdoulrahame Tchiani calling for the restoration of democratic governance.
It also noted with concern that the “ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on the political situation in Niger held in Abuja on 30th July 2023 under the Tinubu, the ECOWAS leaders gave a one-week ultimatum for the perpetrators of the coup to return power to the democratically elected President Muhammadou Bazoum or face a range of sanctions including, among others, economic, land and overflight blockade already imposed or military intervention.
“ACF however views with concern the unfolding events in Nigeria’s immediate neighbour, Republic of Niger and the potential impact on the region.
“Nigeria and Niger share a long historical border of more than one thousand five hundred kilometres with families, communities sharing common facilities including farmlands, markets, cultural bonds and languages for many centuries predating the trans-Saharan trade and colonial times.
“The two countries have enjoyed harmonious brotherly and mutually beneficial intercommunal relationships from time immemorial.
“The measures being contemplated should have taken into consideration the historical antecedents and mutual interests of the two countries and weighed the consequences of the use of force.
“While the ACF recognises the ECOWAS position to bring pressure to bear on the perpetrators but nevertheless the military option shouldn’t be a prerequisite for Nigeria’s and the community’s continuing efforts to enthrone democracy in the region in the 21st century.
“Certainly, not an adventure to be led Nigeria. Democracy has taken root in Nigeria and her leadership role has inspired many countries in ECOWAS to embrace a democratic governance structure.
“We shouldn’t throw that away for some misadventure against our brothers and sisters on the other side prejudicial to our non -interference in a country’s internal affairs posture and attendant legal implications.
“ECOWAS is a shining example of a functional Regional Economic Cooperation (REC) on the continent which should be sustained.
“We believe the peaceful relations with our border communities and stability of the entire region should be paramount.
“A military intervention might yield a temporary solution but the repercussions on Nigeria as a leader and the regional body would impact negatively on future relations and a herculean task to rebuild.
“To this end, ACF notes that while it supports the position to restore democratic rule in Niger, it calls on the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government under the able Chairmanship of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that it should tow the path of dialogue and diplomacy and certainly not force, in resolving the current impasse in Niger in the interest of peaceful coexistence with our brotherly neighbour and stability of the ECOWAS region.”
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