By Fawaz Adebisi
Senators have declined President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to Niger Republic as part of an ECOWAS effort to reinstate the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, who was ousted in a coup.
Following ECOWAS leaders’ ultimatum for the coup leaders to restore constitutional order, the regional body imposed sanctions on them, and Nigeria cut electricity supplies and closed borders with Niger.
Despite the coup leaders’ refusal to back down, senators have rejected the idea of military action, emphasizing Nigeria’s fragile internal peace and the need to address domestic challenges like Boko Haram, banditry, and ESN/IPOB issues.
The Senate president, Godswill Akpabio said “almost all the senators spoke and totally ruled out the military options because of many factors and also because of the harmonious relationship that Nigeria and Niger has always enjoyed.
“Senators instead urged President Tinubu to intensify negotiation with the coup leaders by again sending a high-powered delegation to Niamey. Someone suggested that elderstatemen like Obasanjo, Gen Ali Gusau and Abdulsalam Abubakar should be sent as special envoys to dialogue and seek a diplomatic solution.
“Senators opposed to military action pointed out that our military is highly ill-equipped and not prepared to fight any war.They said that we have fragile peace in Nigeria and that Niger is the highest arms market in Africa.
“Senators believe that the Federal Government should focus on solving the Boko Haram, banditry and ESN/IPOB menaces ravaging the country instead of contemplating going to war in a foreign country. ”
Senators therefore advocated for intensified negotiations with the coup leaders, suggesting the involvement of respected figures like Obasanjo, Gen Ali Gusau, and Abdulsalam Abubakar to find a diplomatic solution.
While Senator Akpabio appealed for support of President Tinubu’s steps, the senators remained firm in their rejection of military intervention.
The Senate is now returning to plenary to deliberate and pass a resolution on the matter.
