ECOWAS Parliament Kicks Against Military Action In Niger

ECOWAS Parliament Kicks Against Military Action In Niger

OpenLife Nigeria reports that the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, parliament was, on Saturday, divided over how best to address the political impasse caused by the coup in Niger Republic.

While some members advocated actions that would stem military intrusion into governance within the region, others said dialogue and diplomacy were the best ways to solve the crisis.

The positions were taken when the 22 parliamentarians held an extraordinary meeting, virtually, to discuss the Niger Republic impasse.
The members, who were against military action, put forward the fate that could befall the masses if the country was invaded by forces trying to dislodge the coupists.

Among the speakers who spoke against military invasion of Niger Republic were Idris Wase and Ali Ndume.

Wase, the first Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of ECOWAS, berated President Bola Tinubu, the ECOWAS Chairman.

He accused the President of unilaterally closing the Nigerian-Niger border and cutting electricity without the approval of the Nigerian National Assembly.

Wase added: “When the Russia-Ukraine war started, people thought it was to be a sharp war.

“A year after, the war is still lingering on with the attendant economic squander and wanton destruction of lives and properties.
“The sub-regional military chiefs knows what they stand to benefit economically.

That’s why they’re eager to militarily intervene in Niger. Most of them are corrupt. “Any war on Niger will have adverse effects on 60% of Nigeria, especially Northern Nigeria.

On his part, Senator Ndume said: “We are the representatives of the people. Whatever action that must be taken should be dependent on what our people want.

“The ECOWAS Chairman, President Tinubu, wrote the Nigerian Senate on the planned military intervention in Niger and the Red Chamber vehemently opposed the use of force.

They prefer, instead, dialogue should be adopted in resolving the impasse. “President Tinubu has no right to close the Niger-Nigeria border, cut electricity without the approval of the Nigerian National Assembly.

“It is not the Niger junta that are suffering the sanctions, rather it is innocent people.”