The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has cautioned the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against the use of military force in restoring democratic rule in the Niger Republic.
The forum urged ECOWAS under the Chairmanship of Tinubu to toe the path of dialogue and diplomacy, not force.
While recognizing Nigeria’s efforts to enthrone democracy in the region and commitment to the principle of non-interference in independent countries’ affairs, ACF warned Tinubu not to throw that away for what it described as “misadventure against our brothers and sisters on the other side,” referring to Niger.
ACF’s position was made known in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Murtala Aliyu, on Friday.
Although the forum noted that military intervention in Niger could provide a momentary solution, it also warned that its consequences for Nigeria would be great, noting that it would affect the country’s relations with other neighboring countries in the future.
ACF, therefore, said peaceful relations with border countries and the stability of the region should be Nigeria’s priorities.
The statement reads, “ACF, however, views with concern the unfolding events in Nigeria’s immediate neighbor, the Republic of Niger, and the potential impact on the region.
“Nigeria and the Niger Republic share a long historical border of more than one thousand five hundred kilometers with families and communities sharing common facilities, including farmlands, markets, cultural bonds, and languages, for many centuries predating the trans-Saharan trade and colonial times.
“The measures being contemplated should have taken into consideration the historical antecedents and mutual interests of the two countries and weighed the consequences of the use of military force.
“While the ACF recognizes the ECOWAS position to bring pressure to bear on the perpetrators, nevertheless, the military option shouldn’t be a prerequisite for Nigeria’s and the Community’s continuing efforts to enthrone democracy in the region in the 21st century.
“Certainly not an adventure to be led by Nigeria. Democracy has taken root in Nigeria, and her leadership role has inspired many countries in ECOWAS to embrace a democratic governance structure.
“We shouldn’t throw that away for some misadventure against our brothers and sisters on the other side prejudicial to our non-interference in a country’s internal affairs posture and attendant legal implications.
“ECOWAS is a shining example of a functional Regional Economic Cooperation (REC) on the continent that should be sustained.
“We believe peaceful relations with our border communities and the stability of the entire region should be paramount.
“A military intervention might yield a temporary solution, but the repercussions on Nigeria as a leader and the regional body would impact negatively on future relations and make rebuilding a herculean task.
“To this end, ACF notes that while it supports the position to restore democratic rule in Niger, it calls on the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government under the able Chairmanship of President Bola Tinubu, that it should tow the path of dialogue and diplomacy and certainly not force, in resolving the current impasse in Niger in the interest of peaceful coexistence with our brotherly neighbour and stability of the ECOWAS region.”
