By Linus Aleke
The political crisis in Republic of Niger, which was precipitated by the unconstitutional change of government has pinched Members of Parliament (MPs), of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), against each other.
The MPs are sharply divided, over which method should be adopted by the economic bloc to resolve the political impase in the landlock West Africa nation, as some opted for use of force while, others oppose it vehemently, calling for diplomatic options instead.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Rt. Hon. Sidie Mohammed Tunis convened a Virtual Extra Ordinary Session, to discuss the Niger political crisis.
The ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government had ordered for the activation of ECOWAS standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger.
This decision was contained in a communique issued after the the Extraordinary meeting of the Authority in Abuja on Thursday.
Contributing to debate during the Virtual Extra Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament, a member of the Senegalese delegation to the Parliament, Hon Abdoulaye Vilane, urged the Parliament to approve the decision of the Authority of Heads of State and Government to declare war on Niger coupists.
He said, the issue of political crisis should not be handled with emotions.
Hon Vilane, further argued the level of intelligence at the disposal of the Heads of State put them in better position to make informed decision.
To this end, he appealed to MPs to give a unanimous support to the declaration of war on Niger coupists, to preserve the relevance of ECOWAS, and discourage coup d’etat in the region.
Supporting this school of thought, the member of Nigerian delegation to ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Linda Ikpeazu, said that the diplomatic options failed to yield the desired result in Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso.
She pandered towards use of force on Niger coupists to serve as a deterrent to other prospective coupists in the sub region.
Few other Nigerian MPs, from supported the use of force.
Meanwhile in a swift counter to the call for use of force in Niger, the leader of Nigerian delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament and First Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase, vehemently opposed the use of force.
In his contributions, Hon. Wase said the use of force will destroy the people.
“I am totally opposed to war. Our economy is fragile, we should not even contemplate war. The entire northern Nigeria will be affected by war,” he said.
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In his contributions, another Nigerian MP, Senator Ali Ndume said, called on the authority to obey the rule of law.
He said, any war declared now without approval of of the Parliament and UN Security Council will be null and void.
He disclosed that the Nigerian Senate has since rejected the request by president Tinubu to deploy Nigerian military.
Meanwhile, majority of the MPs who spoke during the Extraordinary session called for use of dialogue.
