The Niamey debacle, By Odi Ikpeazu

ECOWAS, I think, is justified in at least employing the time-tested tactic of brinkmanship with regard to the Niger question. That being said, the threat of aggression does not automatically translate to war but on the contrary, when properly managed, could ironically be an instrument for bringing about peace in the end.

I have to admit at once and without apology, that I am personally in favour of anything that encourages African leaders and people to think in total continental terms. In the absence of that totality however, whenever we do proceed corporately even from a sub-continental standpoint, it is at least a step in the right direction.

I have listened ad nauseum to the arguments about how the proactivity of ECOWAS effectively operates to assist France in exploiting Niger’s uranium.That is perhaps an unkind or simplistic point of view, even when held honestly but would otherwise be rather dishonest or mischievous.

France is not hopelessly dependent on Niger for uranium, as is widely touted locally. It actually has the joint deposits of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Australia, Namibia, Canada and others to keep it from dying of uranium starvation.

The uranium reserves of Niger have always been up for French grabs anyway. It is the same way that other resources in almost all the hapless territories in Africa that claim to be countries, have been carcasses for the vultures of the West. And to be honest, it is quite understandable to me that these areas of land masquerading as nations, should be so exploited. If I were French, I would exploit Niger too because, like the other so called countries of Africa, it is a sitting duck, begging for exploitation.

The major remedy for this destitute condition is a continental African government and a unified economic structure, which cannot be breached indiscriminately by the predators of the West and the Orient. You can deride this postulation as being utopian all you want but the only alternative, you can rest assured, is living in this hellish dystopia as we presently do.

In the absence of an African confederacy, the imperialist economies will forever isolate our miserable territories and take advantage of our terminal disadvantages. They will dictate the economic terms of engagement, perpetuate monopoly and fix prizes for commodity. Whining like motherless babies as we habitually do, will cut us no slack. In fact, the more we whine, the more it is sweet music to the ears of the exploiters.

The most that the Nigerien coup d’etat may achieve is to switch exploiters. For instance, they might swap France for Russia or China or such rot, thinking it is a stroke of genius, while their people will recommence their whining after the initial euphoria of fake liberation.

Military rulers, as we have seen from past experience in West Africa, especially Nigeria, are politicians in berets, fatigues and jackboots. However, their impunity is far more absolute than that of their civilian counterparts, with no pretensions of checks or balances

President Tinubu may be the Chairman of the ECOWAS but holding him personally responsible for the proactive policy of the bloc, is irresponsible. The concern of the bloc is clearly to stem the tide of military juntas in the sub continent. Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso, have proved that diplomatic engagement does not work with Capos, who are determined to take their turn at controlling the vaults of their countries’ Central Banks.

Though a benevolent dictatorship is preferable to a faulty democracy, there is no guarantee at all that these military Mafia rearing their heads in West Africa are in any way inspired by altruism or benevolence. I personally do not intend to hang about to find out since I trust my hunch and follow my nose.

The alternative for President Tinubu as Chairman, would have been to fold his hands, keep mute and do nothing, which I am sure his critics would equally have seized upon to berate him as incompetent and impotent. They would have mischievously interpreted any pacifist posture on his part to be a vindication of their allegations of his incapacitation. I can just picture the hordes of ‘obedients’ booing and mocking him and making such a hullabaloo about some imaginary ‘bala blu.’