Opinion: Niger republic dilemma, by Kola Amzat
There is no doubt that the present political developments in the neighboring Niger Republic has presented President Bola Tinubu the biggest diplomatic battle of his two and half old months regime.
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as the Chairman of ECOWAS is sandwiched on one side between the dominant America, Great Britain, rapacious French,, their allies, and on the other side, by Russia, Chinese and their allies.
Indeed, the French are at the centre of it all. The Niger Republic new military leaders refused to buckle under the serious threat of France, their former colonial master, that has re-emphasize on the need for the junta to reinstate the overthrown President Bazoum.
Meanwhile, the hard stance of the Niger military junta is considered as effrontery and height of insolence by France, a country which stock-in-trade since 16th Century has remained expansionism of territories, and has so far transverse North America, the Caribbean, India, Indochina and South Pacific in this unwholesome and horrendous enterprise.
In the contemporary world, the French desire to annex the global world is particularly dominant in the African continent, the vicious venture that began with the conquest of Algiers in 1830 and has since extended significantly to West African Coast, as well as many countries in Central Africa.
It’s indeed instructive to note that French Colonial Empire remains the second largest in the world after the British Empire.
Also, the Coup detat in Niger Republic was executed not too long after President Tinubu was elected as Chairman of ECOWAS, who in his acceptance speech made the famous pronouncement that, ECOWAS would no longer accept any coup in the region, under whatever guise, and that the body would henceforth be making spirited efforts to strengthen democratic governance in the West African Coast.
The ugly development in Niger Republic has therefore subject the president to serious test particularly on the need to enforce the declaration of zero tolerance for coup within the region made during the ECOWAS meeting, as well as ensuring that wishes of Western Countries, the French, Americans, as well as Great Britain prevail. But, there are attendant obstacles on the path.
Firstly, Niger Republic is perhaps the closest to Nigeria in the northern hemisphere, with particular reference to North West and North East Geo-Political zones that are indeed sharing borders with the troubled country.
It’s no rocket science that any attack on the Niger Republic would have significant effects on the two geo-political zones in terms of economy, infrastructural, as well as colossal human carnage.
Can Nigeria cope with associated disturbances and dislocation in the North West and North East regions, her two most populous and unarguably most strategic regions in the North as a result of attack on Niger Republic?
It’s also instructive to note that President Tinubu’s government just berthed and with the numerous challenges facing the countries following decades of maladministration and mismanagement of resources, it’s obviously out of place that, the country next Agenda would be to lead ECOWAS regional body to attack a neighboring country without exploring the channels of diplomacy to its limit.
Equally, it would be fool hardy on the part of Nigeria as a nation to allow herself to be used as a tool to settle deep-rooted supremacy score between the acclaimed super powers, American, France, Great Britain, Germany on one hand and Russia, Chinese, etc on the other hand. This is one battle that may lingers for unreasonable length of time and might not even come to a close, as developments in Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Vietnam, Afghanistan, as well as Ukraine have eloquently proved.
Even though, it’s a much smaller country, nonetheless, it’s on record that Niger Republic has been a great ally of our nation over decades, and indeed sharing very close affinity and brotherhood especially with Northern part of Nigeria. Do we now sacrifice this decades of relationship on the altar of war that ordinarily don’t directly concern Nigeria, but that our country is expected to spearhead to satisfy the yearnings of Imperialists?
These have been the challenges that our president has been confronting in the past couple of weeks.
And, Nigerians in all walks of life must salute and commend the president for his political sagacity, high wired diplomatic maneuverings, patience and perseverance, doggedness, wisdom, discerning mind, unique quality of accommodating insults and insolences from the little minded and myopic Nigerians who ordinarily supposed to know better, as well as nationalistic trait & instinct in proving to the super powers that Nigeria is not only giant of Africa in declaration, but also in deeds, with in-built mechanism to solve her problems.
Till date, the president has dispatched three (3) high powered delegations to the troubled country to interface, interact and engage in the discussion of peace with the Junta, with the latest been the strong groups of Ulamas, whose visitation might have opened doors for the peaceful resolution. In the weeks ahead, this would come into manifestation.
Nigerians vividly recall that, President Tinubu had earlier dispatched former president, Abdulsalam Abubakar and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminent, Sir Saa’d Abubakar to General Tchani and his group with a view to breaking the impasse. They recorded little success.
This was followed by the visitation of former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who indeed engaged and interacted with the head of Junta and thereafter briefed the president.
The president also sent former Vice President, Babagana Kingibe to Presidents of Algeria and Libya to interact and influence the North African countries with a view to contributing to achievement of peace.
In a very difficult and complex event like the quandary in the Niger Republic, there is no limit to exploring diplomatic channels to arrive at solution. This is what the president has been doing.
President Bola Tinubu has deployed his A+ rating diplomatic ingenuity, wisdom, helicopter views, leadership skills set and statesmanship in getting very close to amicable resolution of the political impasse in Niger Republic.
With the development so far, the iconic president might have attracted more respect and honors as the Chairman of ECOWAS. The president has proved to the Western Countries that African continent are capable of amicably resolving their crisis.
It’s also remarkable that the President Tinubu has not incurred the wrath of American, Great Britain, French and their allies nor has he offended the Russians, Chinese, as well as their allies.
Of course, it’s a win-win situation. The president, therefore, deserves huge commendation and global accolades for this.
Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB, CTP, MBA)
Lagos Based Financial Consultant 09077509348.
