Northern socio-cultural organization, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has warned President Bola Tinubu and the ECOWAS against military intervention in Niger Republic where military officers have ousted the democratically elected President Mohammed Bazoum.
The Authority of Heads of State and Governments of ECOWAS, which Nigeria chairs, had among other sanctions, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the coupists to restore the ousted President.
But an alarmed ACF, on Friday, warned that military intervention in the West African country would have consequences for Nigeria.
The organisation, which gave the warning in a statement by its General Secretary, Murtala Aliyu, called for dialogue to resolve the issue.
According to ACF, the use of military might in the Niger Republic will not guarantee peace and stability in the ECOWAS sub-region.
The statement reads in part: “ACF, however, views with concern the unfolding events in Nigeria’s immediate neighbour, the Republic of Niger, and the potential impact on the region.
“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 military force.
“While the ACF recognises the ECOWAS position to bring pressure to bear on the perpetrators, 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.”
ACF noted that though military intervention might yield a temporary solution, the result will come with repercussions for Nigeria as a leader and the regional body.
“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 Tinubu, that it should toe 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,” it added.
