A former presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has appealed to Nigeria’s President and Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to have a rethink on the decision to commit Nigeria troops to the invasion of Niger in pursuant of the ECOWAS’ resolution.
He said that Nigeria must retain its policy of Non-Alignment, which he said earned the nation respect and international friends in the past.
A statement from Olawepo-Hashim’s Media Office in Abuja explained that though “the invasion of Niger Republic may achieve the objective of removing the military junta in Niamey, it has the potential of escalating the security problem in the North West and North East parts of Nigeria.
He said that escalation of crisis in Niger would ensure the remnant of the fleeing men loyal to the Junta hibernate in forests between Nigeria and Niger to cause havoc.
He said that such a development would escalate what the bandits have been doing in the area in the past few years.
After the country’s military chiefs defied an ultimatum to restore the elected president, leaders of the West Africa’s regional bloc at the second extra-ordinary summit on the crisis in Abuja last Thursday maintained that it is seeking a diplomatic solution but has not ruled out using force to resolve the crisis saying all options are still being explored, the statement.
ECOWAS is also demanding the unconditional release and reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
The statemenr read: “The threat of an invasion, though not specific, raises tensions in and around Niger, a uranium producer that until the coup was an important ally of the West in the fight against Islamist insurgents devastating the Sahel region.”
Olawepo-Hashim, said that though “nations go to war primarily to protect their national interests, but in this case, there is no national interest of Nigeria at stake in Niger to warrant a commitment of Nigerian troops.”
He added that the problem in Niger is an internal problem of Niger and at best a Francophone problem.
He said: “Nigeria must return to its traditional foreign policy of pursuing peace and security in Africa, policy of Non-Aggression and Non-Alignment. “We must remain Non- Aligned to the interests of any foreign power at the global stage as formulated by our founding fathers at independence. “The policy of Non-Alignment championed by Nigeria and India earned the nation respect and friendship all over the world.”
He further stated that Africa cannot afford another security mess similar to what happened after the invasion of Libya and the overthrow of Muammar Gadaffi in 2012 which he said destabilised the entire Sahel region, while creating securiry problems for Nigeria as well.
While noting that military intervention is now regarded as an aberration around the world, he nevertheless urged the ECOWAS to employ “constructive engagement and diplomacy in ensuring that democratic structures are restored in the country.”
