ECOWAS Parliament Discuss Sanctions On Niger, Members Kick Against Military Intervention
Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
Members of the Parliament of Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, are meeting virually to discuss the coup and ECOWAS stance on the country.
The first deputy speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon Idris Wase, in his speech, called that the region should go through diplomatic routes to solving the problem as according to him, any war in Niger will have adverse effect on 60% of Nigerians especially, Northern Nigeria.
For the second deputy speaker, Honourable Mohammed Karbeer Garba, the use of military force has never solved any problem hence dialogue should be explored.
A member of the Nigerian Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, Ali Ndume, was vocal in his opposition to the unilateral closing of the Nigerian – Niger border, cutting off electricity without the approval of the Nigerian National Assembly by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration.
He said that any war declared in Niger without the approval of the National Assembly is against the law as countries work with constitutional agreements.
Another member of the Nigeria delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, Honourable Linda Ikpeazu however urged the ECOWAS to appraise past diplomatic overtures, adopted in Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso, how effective it was before towing the same line.
According to her, allowing the coup leaders in Niger have their way, amounts to tactical signal for the military of other countries to plot coups going forward which is a sign of weakness on the part of ECOWAS.
The fourth deputy speaker, Hon Salou DJibo from Niger republic, on his part, insisted on the use of dialogue to resolving the impasse, as the sanctions imposed on Niger is already taking its toll on ordinary Nigeriens.
He explained that war will only inflict more pains on ordinary people even though he agreed with some of the resolutions of the heads of State of ECOWAS
Hon Awaji-Inombek Dagomie Abiante urged ECOWAS to pay keen attention and treat the root causes of coup in ECOWAS countries adding that diplomacy must be used to resolve the problem.
Hon Adebayo Balogun, who reminded the Parliamentarians that there is a clear difference between intervening militarily to dislodge a military junta and declaring war on a country, said that ECOWAS is not declaring war on Niger but simply intervening against the coup leaders from taking power because Niger is a signatory to ECOWAS revised protocol on non-military intervention.
