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Nigerian senators on Tuesday dispatched a
rare warning to Malian coup plotters who
ousted that country’s elected government
last week, threatening at a point, the use of
force to restore Amadou Toure’s
government in a strange diplomatic
meddling that fleetingly portrayed Nigeria as
the formidable regional big brother.
In a resolution to condemn the dramatic
take-over of government and the suspension
of Malian constitution by the soldiers, the
lawmakers appeared furious at the
development and tipped the rhetoric far
above the expected, repeatedly mentioning
military force as an option to restore
normalcy.
One of the prayers canvassed for, by the
sponsors of the motion was to mandate
President Goodluck Jonathan to consider
sending Nigeria’s military to eject the
mutineers led by Captain Amadou Sanogo.
The move was however defeated.
The events in Mali have drawn international
condemnations from world powers like the
United States and former colonial master,
France.
Amid rising fears of a counter coup by
soldiers loyal to the ousted president, the
coup leader, Captain Sanogo has reassured
of his control of the country, and has said
the military would not keep power any
longer than is necessary to deal with the
Tuareg rebellion in the country’s north.
The Nigerian senators deplored the move
and the senate president, David Mark,
himself a former coup plotter, said a military
take-over presented no solution to the
insurgency in the north of the poor West
African country.
“Coup used to be the order of the day,” he
said. “Every country in Africa then felt that its
military should be in charge of governance.
But now I think they have learnt their
lessons that military coup is no t only
unwanted, but it is an aberration.”
Mr. Mark gave emphasis to call from a
senator, Abdul Ningi (Bauchi state) for
immediate Nigeria-led military invasion of
Mali to oust the coup plotters.
“They should leave, and if they fail they can
be forced to leave. Whatever they call it,
coup, mutiny or insurrection; all we want is
for the military to vacate,” Mr. Mark insisted.
The senate condemned the act, and
demanded an immediate restoration of
democracy within seven days, failing
however, to state a punitive response. An
earlier suggestion that Nigerian envoy to Mali
be recalled was rejected.
Still, some senators saw the move somewhat
intrusive, and a measure that may fetch no
adherence coming from Nigeria - a known
bastion of coup plots in the past.
“We don’t have the moral high ground and
they will not listen to us,” advised Ahmed
Makarfi, a Peoples Democratic Party senator
from Kaduna State.