Following Russian President, Vladimir Putin’s warning against the use of military force by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to restore the ousted president of Niger Republic, Mohamed Bazoum, a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, in a tweet, said that ECOWAS did not interfere when Russia’s president ordered a military invasion in Ukraine and Crimea respectively.
While lamenting that African leaders have tolerated too much interference from leaders around the globe, Omomkri said Putin sought the help of the Belarusian President when Wagner and Yevgeny Prigozhin attempted a coup against him.
According to him, “if a coup in Russia is not welcome, why should a coup in Niger be welcome?”
In his words, “Why will Russia be warning Nigeria and ECOWAS about intervening in Niger? Did we interfere when Russia invaded Ukraine? Did we poke our noses when Putin invaded Crimea?
“What is Russia’s business with West Africa? Did Putin not panic when Wagner and Yevgeny Prigozhin attempted a coup against him?
“Did he not appeal to the Belarusian President to intervene to save him? Did he not try to rally the Russian people to defend their ‘democracy’ such as it is?
“So, if a coup in Russia is not welcome, why should a coup in Niger be welcome? Was theNigerien President, Mohamed Bazoum, not democratically elected?
“Honestly, African leaders tolerate too much interference! This is not a Western or Russian issue. Mind your businesses and leave the ECOWAS to mind theirs.”
