Niger Invasion: Don't Pull the Trigger to Cause Sub-Regoonal War, Nigerians Welfare More Important. Omoluabi Group Cautions Tinubu.

Niger Invasion: Don't Pull the Trigger to Cause Sub-Regoonal War, Nigerians Welfare More Important. Omoluabi Group Cautions Tinubu. 

Nigeria in the last few days have attracted global attention following the decision of ECOWAS in the case of the coup staged in Niger by the military junta. All eyes on Nigeria on the role expected of her as the head of ECOWAS with President Tinubu as the current Chairman. No doubt the role of Nigerien military force leading to a coup d'etat in a democratic sovereignty like that of Niger is a condemnable act that must be rebuked, rebuffed and not given a chance to thrive in this century. 

The case at hand is no doubt an attempt to put the courage, diplomatic experience and capacity of the Nigerian President to test in the area of alternative dispute resolution on a sub- regional scale. For resource persons in Nigeria who are well read in international diplomacy, history of politics and war will agree that for every internal, sub-regional, regional and global crises no matter how trivial or germaine it may appear, there are faceless beings at the background with the intention to pursue and  protect personal interest and gains. Case study of Russia and Ukraine protracted war which is currently ongoing.

As a group that parades members who are elites, young and talented with the mandate to protect the interest of Nigerians on international issues and  provide direction to government at all levels on sensitive issues of national and international concern of this magnitude. On our own end we have brainstormed and critically re- examined the issue at hand with regards to the crises in Niger and the ECOWAS approach in resolving this amicably without war. To many,  Niger is assumed to be the northern extension of Nigeria, though unofficial and so a few kilometer walk away from Northern Nigeria. The approach must absolutely adopt a negotiation mechanism where there will be a win - win affair to avert replicating what happened between two brothers Russia and Ukraine leaving their citizens in great pains and agony few years after the entire world was just recovering from the COVID- 19 global pandemic with its attendant economic recession which is still very much felt all over the world.

At this junction, the President must be made to know that the option to invade the territory of the Republic of Niger by fierce and full force is a big test for him as a new President considering the present challenges that comes with re-fixing an economically distorted country like Nigeria. The decision of the military junta in Niger to hire the Wagne war mercenary if invaded by the ECOWAS joint  military force is a clear evidence of a looming war that has a finger behind it. The question is why the choice place to perpetrate such disaffection is the West Africa sub- region? Why is the military coup in Niger coming up now in less than three months after the swearing -in of President Tinubu? Why was there no serious issue and noise in the case of previous military take over in other West African countries like Burkina Faso and  Mali which happened long before the Tinubu regime? These are serious questions for PBAT to reflect on. Is it not the case of the powerful nations from the west scrambling again for the  resources in their colonized territories around Africa they have underdeveloped so as to harvest the wealth of the people again, hence the need to cause war in a peaceful West Africa sub- region?

If Mr. President can put on his thinking caps and ruminate on these questions without any bias, it will simply put him on the path of seeking a solution that will not cause unsolicited sub- regional war and most likely pains and agony on Nigerians  in the midst of current economic hardship he is yet to resolve internally.

Omoluabi Team Alliance Socio- cultural and Political Group deem it fit to caution ECOWAS under the leadership of President Tinubu to thread with caution as he is about to step into a big issue whose end may not be known because of the external forces with great interest in this matter. The joint forces of the military junta from Mali, Burkina Faso among others and other interest groups from the west  is a potential attempt to pull the trigger for a sub-regional war that is capable of causing more economic hardship on Nigerians, a waste of resources considering the cost of fighting a war at this time, loss of military personnels and veterans who have been overstretched by the challenges of combatting terrorism around the northeastern Nigeria yet undefeated. We must not deceive ourselves, Nigeria as the strength and giant of West Africa sub- region at the moment does not have the capacity to fight war which is looming if this issue is not properly managed..

We advise that Mr. President remove the option of forcefully invading Niger by force to rather toll the path of  peace through alternative dispute resolution, seek a common ground for discussion between the democratically elected leader, the President of Niger, his political allies and the military junta, which we hope is achievable  if the earlier conditions as resolutions reached by ECOWAS is relaxed.

The President should focus more on improving the welfare of Nigerians, cure the ravaging hunger epidemic, reduce the pump price of PMS, dissipate energy and resources on how to build new refineries, refurbish the existing ones, improve on the standard of our pubic hospitals, tertiary institutions, 24 hours uninterrupted electricity and improved standard of living for all categories of Nigerians. 

The home must be happy first before a peep into the affairs of the next door neighbor. 

Please Jaw jaw and not war war Omoluabi Group advise.

Omoluabi Jayeola, Afolabi

National Convener and Leader of Omoluabi Team Alliance Socio-cultural and Political Group writes from a city in the southwest Nigeria.

Email: omoluabi_teamalliance2022@yahoo.com

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