The military coup in Niger Republic has continued to draw international attention, with fear rising that Nigeria may push through a military intervention.
In the past few days, there has been tension over Niger crisis. Some fear that Nigeria may go to war with Niger, to force the military out of government.
This has whipped up diverse comments about what such move would come with.
One that is major is the unsettling of more states in northern Nigeria.
But President Bola Tinubu is saying the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) believes diplomacy is the “best way forward”.
Defiled Ultimatum
A spokesman for President Tinubu, Ajuri Ngelale, gave the president’s position.
“No options have been taken off of the table,” he said, giving indications that a gunboat diplomacy could be part of the plan.
Also, he hinted that President Tinubu and other West African leaders favour diplomacy.
ECOWAS had issued an ultimatum to the military junta, asking it to hand power back to a democratically elected government. Sunday was the last day for that matching order.
But the military is holding on to power, which it took after sacking President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup.
Speaking two days after the ultimatum elapsed, President Tinubu is weighing in on the way forward.
He is the chairman of ECOWAS.
‘We Do Have Hope’
Unfortunately, moves by ECOWAS and the United States to engage the military rulers have been rebuffed.
Now, a crisis summit has been scheduled to hold in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, on Thursday.
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On its part, the United States is hopeful of reversing the coup. Although, a top US envoy made no tangible progress in an unannounced visit.
“We do have hope that the situation will be reversed but at the same time, we are making clear, including in direct conversations with junta leaders themselves, what the consequences are for failing to return to constitutional order,” State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, told reporters.
Soldiers seized power in Niamey on July 26. They have blocked a mission by ECOWAS in the runup to the summit.
Also, coup leaders had said in a letter that the public “anger” triggered by ECOWAS sanctions meant the delegation’s safety could be at risk.
