According to President Bola Tinubu, military involvement in the Niger Republic won’t be considered until
all diplomatic alternatives have been explored, insisting that any forceful removal of a democratic
government remains “wholly unacceptable.”
At the State House, President Tinubu welcomed the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, which
was led by His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto. He emphasized that the
alternative of kinetic intervention in the Niger Republic had not been abandoned.
Military action is not off the table, according to the president, who also serves as the chairman of the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), but he noted that it is a situation that should be
better avoided.
The president was cited in the statement as adding, “I must thank you for your numerous visits to the
Niger Republic, Your Eminence, but you will still have to travel back.”
“My worry has been confirmed in Gbon that imitators would start doing the same thing until it is
stopped. We share a border with the Niger Republic, and there is no separating Nigerians from their
great people. A war is not desired by anyone. We have witnessed the destruction in Sudan and Ukraine.
But if we don’t use the big stick, we’ll all have to deal with the repercussions, the President said.
According to Tinubu, Nigeria implemented a nine-month transition program in 1998 under the
leadership of former president of state Abdulsalami Abubakar, which was effective and helped the
nation enter a new age of democratic governance.
Please don’t feel tired, Your Eminence; you’ll still go back there. This behavior by the army is
reprehensible. The sooner they act favorably, the sooner we will ease sanctions to lessen the misery we
are witnessing in Niger, the President affirmed.
Nigeria is headed for a promise. Our diversity will turn into prosperity, not adversity. We will build a
country that our children will be proud of,” the President assured.
Simha Asuquo contributes from Lagos, Nigeria
