₦airaland Forum

Tensions rise after Niamey pushed back envoys from Nigeria, Togo, France and the US, and diplomatic solutions in Niger now look unlikely.
By Eniola Akinkuotu
President of Nigeria Bola Tinubu. (File photo/Reuters/Lewis Joly/Pool)
President of Nigeria Bola Tinubu. © File photo/Reuters/Lewis Joly/Pool
Published on August 04, 2023 at 04:16 pm (GMT +1)

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Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has sought parliamentary approval to place sanctions on the Republic of Niger and mobilise the military for a possible intervention should the junta not respond to the conditions sought by the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS).

The belated letter comes after Nigeria had already cut the electricity supply of its northern neighbour, a move which sparked anti-Tinubu protests on the streets of Niamey with demonstrators holding posters and banners which read ‘Ebola Tinubu’.

Asking permission
On 4 August, Tinubu sent a letter to Senate president Godswill Akpabio seeking approval to deploy soldiers to enforce ECOWAS resolutions, in accordance with Section 5 of the Nigerian Constitution which states that the head of state must seek consent from parliament before sending troops abroad.

In his letter, Tinubu seeks support to close all land borders with Niger and begin “border drill exercises”.

He informs federal lawmakers of the ‘military build-up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce the compliance by the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant’.

Tinubu also reveals his plans to embark on media sensitisation in order to gain the support of the Nigerian people, and informs parliament of a blockade of goods in transit to landlocked Niger.

Diplomacy fails
Tinubu’s letter contrasts with his diplomatic move just 24 hours earlier when he despatched a delegation led by former Nigerian military head of state General Abdulsalami Abubakar to meet with Niger’s military junta to accept the ECOWAS conditions – including the unconditional release and reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

However, the Nigerien junta announced the expulsion of ambassadors from Nigeria, Togo, France and the US with immediate effect. It also asked the US and France to withdraw their troops from the country immediately.

Reports say the delegation was not able to meet with the head of the junta, General Abdourahamane Tiani, or with ousted President Bazoum.

In an article published in the Washington Post, Bazoum described himself as a hostage and called on the US government and the international community to ‘help us restore our constitutional order’.

He said the allegations levelled against him by the military junta were false, adding that the insecurity in the poor nation had reduced significantly since he took office in 2021.

The ousted president further stated that since Niger depends on foreign aid to implement 40% of its budget, the sanctions slammed on the country would worsen the plight of the people.

Time is ticking
With only two days left for the ultimatum issued by ECOWAS to expire, all eyes are on the leader of the sub-region, Tinubu, and the military junta led by Tiani to see who blinks first.

A leaked military memo revealed that an offensive may be launched from Sokoto, a northern state in Nigeria that shares borders with Niger.

However, sources tell The Africa Report that the military has returned to the drawing board following the leaked memo.

https://www.theafricareport.com/318064/nigeria-tinubu-seeks-parliaments-approval-to-invade-niger/

When this happened Tinubus data boys were here supporting invasion but today they are insulting Trump because she wants to come and help us kill terrorists

The Niger soldiers are the ones playing cat and mouse with the ECOWAS ultimatum. They have been given different options but they keep on dragging things.

We shall see who would blink first

Exactly what I said today ooooo

Another hypocrisy of the failed government exposed. Ribadu video asking US involvement to exterminate killer terrorists surfaced today. Now this! The fact is that every evil the APC have ever supported or opposed, they have done the worst.

Salewa97:
The Niger soldiers are the ones playing cat and mouse with the ECOWAS ultimatum. They have been given different options but they keep on dragging things.

We shall see who would blink first

what is this one saying?

SalamRushdie:
Tensions rise after Niamey pushed back envoys from Nigeria, Togo, France and the US, and diplomatic solutions in Niger now look unlikely.
By Eniola Akinkuotu
President of Nigeria Bola Tinubu. (File photo/Reuters/Lewis Joly/Pool)
President of Nigeria Bola Tinubu. © File photo/Reuters/Lewis Joly/Pool
Published on August 04, 2023 at 04:16 pm (GMT +1)

Share
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has sought parliamentary approval to place sanctions on the Republic of Niger and mobilise the military for a possible intervention should the junta not respond to the conditions sought by the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS).

The belated letter comes after Nigeria had already cut the electricity supply of its northern neighbour, a move which sparked anti-Tinubu protests on the streets of Niamey with demonstrators holding posters and banners which read ‘Ebola Tinubu’.

Asking permission
On 4 August, Tinubu sent a letter to Senate president Godswill Akpabio seeking approval to deploy soldiers to enforce ECOWAS resolutions, in accordance with Section 5 of the Nigerian Constitution which states that the head of state must seek consent from parliament before sending troops abroad.

In his letter, Tinubu seeks support to close all land borders with Niger and begin “border drill exercises”.

He informs federal lawmakers of the ‘military build-up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce the compliance by the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant’.

Tinubu also reveals his plans to embark on media sensitisation in order to gain the support of the Nigerian people, and informs parliament of a blockade of goods in transit to landlocked Niger.

Diplomacy fails
Tinubu’s letter contrasts with his diplomatic move just 24 hours earlier when he despatched a delegation led by former Nigerian military head of state General Abdulsalami Abubakar to meet with Niger’s military junta to accept the ECOWAS conditions – including the unconditional release and reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

However, the Nigerien junta announced the expulsion of ambassadors from Nigeria, Togo, France and the US with immediate effect. It also asked the US and France to withdraw their troops from the country immediately.

Reports say the delegation was not able to meet with the head of the junta, General Abdourahamane Tiani, or with ousted President Bazoum.

In an article published in the Washington Post, Bazoum described himself as a hostage and called on the US government and the international community to ‘help us restore our constitutional order’.

He said the allegations levelled against him by the military junta were false, adding that the insecurity in the poor nation had reduced significantly since he took office in 2021.

The ousted president further stated that since Niger depends on foreign aid to implement 40% of its budget, the sanctions slammed on the country would worsen the plight of the people.

Time is ticking
With only two days left for the ultimatum issued by ECOWAS to expire, all eyes are on the leader of the sub-region, Tinubu, and the military junta led by Tiani to see who blinks first.

A leaked military memo revealed that an offensive may be launched from Sokoto, a northern state in Nigeria that shares borders with Niger.

However, sources tell The Africa Report that the military has returned to the drawing board following the leaked memo.

https://www.theafricareport.com/318064/nigeria-tinubu-seeks-parliaments-approval-to-invade-niger/

If the mods have any sense in their heads then this thread ought to be deleted ASAP

We are not going to allow any foreign interference in our affairs.

Jamie248:
If the mods have any sense in their heads then this thread ought to be deleted ASAP

Why do you want it deleted? someone once told me that peoples brain usually fly out of windows once you start supporting APC , i believe him now

trutharena:
We are not going to allow any foreign interference in our affairs.

Trump and U.S is coming and anyone who have problem with it should go and hug huge transformer