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The Nigerien military leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, has said the military sacked the President Mohamed Bazoum-led government to save both Republic of Niger and Nigeria from possible threat.
Although the nature of the threat was not clarified, but he also apologised for the treatment meted out to former Nigeria’s military leader, General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led mediation team sent by the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), during their visit to Niamey last penultimate week.
These were some of the highlights from the meeting the Nigerien military leaders held with a team of Islamic Ulamas, led by by Sheik Bala Lau, National Chairman Jamatul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah (JIBWIS) in Niamey at the weekend.
They met with General Tchiani for several hours during which they deliberated on all the issues including the demand by ECOWAS.
The Muslim clerics had last week met with Nigeria’s President and chair, Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the need for dialogue in resolving the conflict.
On their request, the president agreed that the leaders go ahead and meet the Niger military leaders for a peaceful resolution of the impasse.
Outcomes
In a statement signed Sunday by Lau, the team leader, he said “the team had earlier told President Tinubu, who is also the Chairman of Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government that their position is that the political impasse in Niger be resolved through dialogue.
“He therefore told General Tchiani that the visit to Niger was to engage in constructive dialogue to encourage him and other military leaders behind the coup to toe the path of peace instead of war to resolve the crisis.
“Responding, General Tchiani, who accorded the team warm reception, welcomed their intervention.
“He said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter.
“General Tchiani, however, said it was painful to the coup leaders that the ECOWAS leaders did not hear their side of the matter before issuing ultimatum to them to quit office.
“He claimed the coup was well intended, stating that they struck to starve off an imminent threat that would have affected not only Niger Republic but also Nigeria.
“He also apologised for not according the team sent by President Tinubu led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) the required attention because they were angry about the ECOWAS ultimatum.
“While tracing the historical ties between the two nations, he said Niger Republic and Nigeria were not only neighbours but brothers and sisters who should resolve issues amicably.”
The statement further quoted a member of the intervention team, Chief Missioner Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheik Ahmad Abdulrahman, as telling journalists in Niamey that “contrary to reports in some sections of the media, the team was well received by General Tchiani and both parties had fruitful discussions.
“We will now go back home and report to President Tinubu what we have discussed and press it on him that war is not an option in resolving the matter.
“We believe that war is an ill wind that will not blow any good and that peaceful resolution should prevail.”
The statement listed members of the team as coming from various Islamic sects across Nigeria.
“Among them were Sheik Kabiru Gombe-Secretary, Jamatul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, Sheik Yakubu Musa Hassan Katsina-Director Daawah, JIBWIS, Sheik Ibrahim Dahiru Bauchi- Rep Sheik Ibrahim Bauchi and Dr Khalid Aliya- Secretary General, Jammatul Nasril Islam.
“Others included Sheik Karibullah Nasiru Kabara- Leader Khadriya group Nigeria, Sheik Ahmad Abdurahman, Professor Salisu Sheri- Deputy Secretary-General Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Sheik Nasiru Abdul Muhayuid- Director Admin, JIBWIS Jos, Professor Mansur Sokoto, and Alhaji Mele Kyari.”
Corroborating the Lau-led group of mediators, Niger Republic’s Prime Minister, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, said: “We have agreed and the leader of our country has given the green light for dialogue. They will now go back and inform the Nigerian President what they have heard from us…. we hope in the coming days, they (ECOWAS) will come here to meet us to discuss how the sanctions imposed against us will be lifted.”
Nigerian community begs
Meanwhile, the Nigerian community has begged President Tinubu not to be part of any plan by the ECOWAS to move against the Niger.
In a viral video which went viral and also received by Blueprint, an elderly Yoruba business woman resident in Niamey warned that the move to go into war with Niger would affect them as major stakeholders, adding “Niger is our country.”
She said: “I greet all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora, and anywhere they are listening or watching me. Dear patriotic Nigerians, and the descendants of Oduduwa, please help me wake Baba Tinubu (President Bola Ahmed Tinubu), this is not the time for him to sleep. He should first address our internal challenges before interfering in other countries’ affairs. Nothing concerns him with what is going on in the Niger Republic.
“Nigeria and Niger are brothers, and anytime the duo sever their relationship, there is an impending war. Nigeria is the supplier of electricity to the Niger Republic though it buys it from the latter, and in the last four days, Niger has been in a total blackout.
“Baba Tinubu under your watch, Nigerians are suffering, and you are not bothered, now you have shifted your attention to another country. If you allow the Niger authority to send us packing, be ready to receive us in Nigeria.
“On the seven-day ultimatum, you gave the coupists in Niger, what concerns you? Please, don’t hinder our economy and way of life.
Though we are Yoruba and Nigerians, Niger is our home and the country where we do our business. Today, if we visit home (Nigeria), they will refer to us as strangers or visitors. Given this, President Bola Tinubu, do not let the Nigerien government send us packing.
“In the last four days, we have been in total darkness, and this is strange because we have never experienced a power outage in Niger. We don’t have torch lights and lanterns. President Tinubu, please don’t implicate us because we are suffering because of your directive/action.”
‘Attempted attack on Nigerian embassy’
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Niger, Mohamed Usman, has said the Nigerien protesters tried to attack the country’s embassy in Niamey.
He, however, said the Nigerien military stopped the planned attack.
He said the attempted attack happened Sunday, 30 July; four days after presidential guards toppled the democratically elected government.
He disclosed this in a statement signed by a staff of the embassy, Liti Auwalu, following a video shared on social media of a building being set ablaze which many claimed is the Nigerian embassy.
“At the moment, the Embassy is well guarded by the Nigerien Military and other Security Authorities,” the statement said, reiterating that the videos were fake and should be disregarded.
Tchiani, had, Wednesday, July 26, led a group of military personnel to arrest Bazoum, dissolved the government and assumed leadership of the country.
And in a very swift response, the Tinubu-led ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Niger, following which it also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the coupists to return the country to the path of democracy.
With the Nigerien military leaders ignoring the ultimatum, the ECOWAS at the end of its meeting last Thursday read a riot act and asked the Chief of Defence of each member country to activate and deploy its standby force. (Blueprint)
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