The burden of restoring democracy in Niger Republic now rests on the shoulders of President Bola Tinubu, by virtue of his position as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Left for Jagaban alone, the military in Niger would have been crushed, as he was ready to unleash the Nigerian military on them.
If not for the prompt intervention of the Senate, one cannot begin to imagine what would have happened: a war?
That was the prediction of many who are warning the Nigerian leader against military intervention.
Now, a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has insisted that Nigeria must resolve the crisis in the Niger Republic.
Influx Of Refugees
Omokri stated that the result of the economic and political instability in Niger would lead to an influx of refugees in Nigeria.
The political analyst argued that it is in the country’s best interest to establish the rule of law in Niger or build a wall to separate both countries.
Furthermore, he urged Nigerians not to be afraid of the country going to war.
To him, Nigeria’s military personnel are more than the military of all fourteen countries in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) combined.
Fact Check
“Fact check me – Nigeria’s defence budget is larger than the defence budgets of every other ECOWAS state combined.
“Our military personnel are more than the military of all 14 other ECOWAS nations combined.
“ECOWAS has a combined annual Gross Domestic Product of $760 billion. Nigeria generates almost $500 billion of that amount, or 63%.
“So, while we fervently, strenuously, and consistently pray against war, that does not mean Nigeria should be a pushover, or be afraid of using its military-industrial complex to advance the cause of democracy and the rule of law.
“We have a vested interest in what happens in next-door Niger Republic, the way Russia has a vested interest in what happens in Ukraine and America in Cuba.
“Gone are the days when President Obama would destabilise Libya and then hand off and leave Nigeria to bear the consequences in the form of Boko Haram, which were essentially a spillover effect of the Libyan crisis.
Political Instability
“Political instability in the Sahel will not be the direct burden of France, NATO or Russia.
“Libya and Chad, which share a border with Niger, are somewhat in a crisis.
“Algeria is dead set against opening its borders to non-Arab, and non-Amazigh persons. Mali is facing hydra-headed issues, including a power struggle, an Islamist insurgency, and a population growth rate higher than her GDP growth rate.
“Therefore, if there is political and economic instability in Niger, the influx of refugees and migrants will naturally be to Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Interest
“And that is why it is in Nigeria’s interests to reestablish the rule of law in Niger. Either that or we build a Trump-style wall between us and them.
“Singapore is perhaps the least mineral-resourced nation on Earth.
“Yet, she has the world’s strongest passport, according to the Henley Index, and one of the highest per capita incomes in the world at almost $90,000.
“And the reason is that Singapore has an unassailable commitment to the rule of law.
“The above means intervening to reestablish the rule of law in Niger might be the better option than building a wall.
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“And for those who are thinking that this is a Western imperialist action, please give Nigeria some credit.”
