By Miriam Humbe
The Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum, (ABMPF), has described the move by Nigeria and other ECOWAS nations for military intervention in Niger Republic, as hasty, ill-conceived and a miscalculated adventure that will eventually plunge the region and indeed the entire Northern Nigeria, already bedeviled with terrorists activities, into turmoil and anarchy.
A statement signed on Sunday by ABMPF’s Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Yelwa said that ABMPF noticed with great concern, the echoes of the drum beats of war being sounded by the West African Regional bloc, ECOWAS, spearheaded by the Nigerian President, Bola Ahmad Tinubu, to meddle into the internal affairs of the Republic of Niger.
ABMPF said it was worth emphasising that any military action in Niger will not only begin and end in Niamey, the Nigerean capital, but will spill over and snowball into Northern Nigerian communities in Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, and Borno states.
According to ECOWAS, the move is to oust the military junta that had staged a coup d’etat, which ousted the civilian administration of President Mohamed Bazoum.
The Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners reminded ECOWAS that the task of defending and sustaining democracy in Niger was the solemn duty of the people of Niger.
ABMPF said the responsibility of its (Niger) neighbours and friends like Nigeria, was not to exacerbate an already bad situation, but to support the Democratic institutions of the country and pray for her in it’s time of needs.
ABMPF said: “Its humanitarian consequences, however, would be felt across the nation and the West African subregion.
“The coup in Niger which began as a palace coup, has now become a national rallying point for anti-neocolonial struggle, not only in Niger but in the rest of the Francophone West Africa.
“Even the nations of ECOWAS have come to terms with the reality of the coup as a fait-accompli that can’t be easily reversed.
“President Tinubu as ECOWAS leader, is also increasingly being seen as a Western stooge, doing the bidding of France and America.
“Anyone conversant with the historic role of Nigeria in ending colonialism in Africa, knows that Nigeria doesn’t deserve the accolade of a Western stooge.”
ABMPF applauded the courage and steadfastness of the Nigerian Senate and other well-meaning Nigerians who have preached caution and restraint.
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