Reactions have continued to trail the military standby order issued by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, against the Niger junta, in a bid to restore the detained democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.
Sani Shehu, a former federal lawmaker, who represented Kaduna Central senatorial district in the 8th Senate, has warned that ECOWAS should not go to war because of the Niger Coup.
The senator in a tweet on his X handle, said, “ECOWAS communique is contradictory; Opting for dialogue and setting up a standby force. Our message to the leaders of West Africa is unambiguously clear; DO NOT drag us to war because of coup in Niger Republic.”
A former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode took to his X handle on Thursday and said “are now on a war footing. So sad. May God guide us!”
Adamu Garba, former Senator who represented the Yobe South constituency of Yobe State, said military deployment doesn’t mean starting a war with Niger.
He tweeted, “ECOWAS statement is ambiguous and not categorical. “Activating Military as a Standby Force for deployment” doesn’t not mean starting a war for me.
“Media should not mislead you into conclusions. We should still wait and see what happens next.”
Human Right Lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said, “As at today, Mr. Tinubu does not have the constitutional authority to deploy a single member of the Nigerian Armed Forces as part of the proposed ECOWAS Standby Force to invade Niger Republic.
“It is not only when a state of war between Nigeria and another country is declared that parliamentary approval is required. Parliamentary approval is also required for all combat duties and missions by our Armed Forces abroad.
“While Section 5 (4)(a) of the 1999 Constitution mandates that the approval of National Assembly must be sought for declaration of a state of war between Nigeria and another country, Section 5(4)(b) of the Constitution specifically provides as follows:
“except with the prior approval of the Senate, no member of the armed forces of the Federation shall be deployed on combat duty outside Nigeria.”
“The fact that Nigeria currently chairs the ECOWAS, and is a signatory to the treaty of ECOWAS does not change the above constitutional stipulation. Every treaty entered into by Nigeria is subject to the Nigerian Constitution.
“Since the Nigerian Senate had passed a resolution and ruled out military option in the resolution of the Niger crisis, any attempt by Mr. Tinubu to deploy a single member of our Armed Forces to take part in the invasion of Niger under any guise or name will be not only reckless, but a gross misconduct which can be treated by the National Assembly as an impeachable offence.
“It is unfortunate that ECOWAS leaders have given in to imperialist demand by France to go to war with Niger. They should have asked themselves why the coup seems to enjoy popular support of the citizens of Niger?
“I believe that the reasonable way out of this crisis is diplomacy. Nigeria is not in a position to go to war. Our Armed Forces are overstretched and underpaid. We are still struggling to overcome internal insecurity and insurgency.
” A country that is going through terrible financial crisis has no business going to war.”
