By Cross Udo and Ben Adoga, Abuja

The leader of the military junta in the Republic of Niger, Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, over the weekend, said the coup that overthrew President Mohammad Bazoum was well intended and carried out to avert an imminent threat that would have affected not only Niger, but also Nigeria.

Tchiani said it was painful to the coup leaders that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government leaders did not hear their side of the matter before issuing an ultimatum to them to quit office.

Speaking when he received Nigeria’s Intervention Team comprising prominent Islamic scholars in the country at the weekend in Niamey, the coup leaders and the Nigerian team agreed to intensify the option of dialogue in resolving the political crisis in that country.

A statement by the leader of the Islamic Ulamma, Sheik Bala Lau, stated that Tchiani, who accorded the team warm reception, welcomed their intervention.

According to the statement, the military leader said their doors are open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter.

He apologised for not according to the team sent by President Bola Tinubu led by former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd) the required attention because they were angry about the ECOWAS ultimatum.

While tracing the historical ties between the two nations, he said the Niger Republic and Nigeria were not only neighbours, but brothers and sisters who should resolve issues amicably.

The statement explained that the Islamic Ulammas met with Tchiani for several hours in Niger’s capital Niamey during which they deliberated on all the issues including the demand by ECOWAS leaders that former President Bazoum be reinstated.

Bala Lau, who is the National Chairman of Jamatul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, said the clerics were in Niger on behalf of President Bola Tinubu who accepted their request to intervene.

Sheik Lau said the team had earlier told President Tinubu who is also the Chairman of the 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.

Speaking with journalists in Niamey after the meeting, another member of the intervention team and Chief Missioner of Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria, Sheik Ahmad Abdulrahman, said contrary to reports in some sections of the media, the team was well received by Tchiani and both parties had fruitful discussions.

He said, “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 team comprised scholars from various Islamic sects in the country.

Among them were Sheik Kabiru Gombe-Secretary, Jamatul izalatul bida waikamatul 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 of Khadriya Group Nigeria, Sheik Ahmad Abdurahman, Prof Salisu Sheri- Deputy Secretary-General of Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Sheik Nasiru Abdul Muhayuid- Director Admin, JIBWIS Jos, Professor Mansur Sokoto, and Alhaji Mele Kyari.

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*Disadvantages of using military force to remove junta outweigh benefits- NLC

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday said despite its opposition to military rule, the disadvantages of the use of military force to remove the military junta in the Niger Republic outweigh the benefits.

The NLC also told the leadership of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government to listen to the wise counsel of people before rushing into decisions that will have adverse consequences on member states.

The Labour also warned the authorities of ECOWAS not to allow themselves to be used by forces outside the regional body or the African continent.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.

NLC recalled that at the end of the second extraordinary summit of the Authority of ECOWAS (Committee of Heads of State/Governments) on Thursday, August 10, 2023, it issued a terse statement “directing the Committee of Chief of Defence Staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately

“Deployment of the ECOWAS standby force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger; To “underscore its continued commitment to restoring constitutional order through peaceful means.”

NLC described the resolutions as “a euphemism for war, immediate war on the Niger Republic, our consistently most peaceful neighbour.”

The statement said, “It will amount to stating the obvious that we at the Nigeria Labour Congress are averse to military rule. Indeed the history of the struggle for democratic rule in Nigeria cannot be complete without mentioning the illustrious contribution of the Labour Movement.

“Despite our unimpeachable credentials in the popular struggle against military rule, we would strongly counsel against the use of military force to remove the military junta in Niger Republic as the disadvantages outweigh the benefits….from putting in danger the lives of the deposed President Bazoum and his family to the destabilisation of the entire region including Northern Nigeria, and loss of many lives in and out of the battlefield. Equally of significance is the unintended possibility of turning Niger into a fertile territory for proxy wars.

“Even after the war is over, the region must brace itself for raised acts of terrorism or insurgency just as it might signal the end of ECOWAS as we know it today given the scenario of ten members fighting five.

“Suspicions are rife that the ECOWAS leadership is trying to pull out of the fire the nut for and on behalf of another or others. While we cannot ascertain the veracity of these claims, ECOWAS must conduct itself in such a manner that its citizens and the world would believe it has a mind of its own.

“Coupled with this, we at the Nigeria Labour Congress have reason to believe that ECOWAS in part is a victim of its double standards or discriminatory policies as it was in some instances seen as condoning and even celebrating coups In the extant matter of Niger Republic, we equally do believe that ECOWAS did not exhaust the process of dialogue before beating war drums. The missions to Niamey were seen as an afterthought.”

Continuing it said, “One of the consequences of weaponising electricity supply to the Niger Republic is the right of proportionate responsorial action by way of the Niger Republic damming the Niger River with unimaginable effects on our ecosystem.

“Beyond all this, the time has come for us to ask ourselves if we have the economic strength to prosecute this war. Even seasoned Generals do admit that we can often predict the beginning of wars but can seldom tell how they end.

“As we stated at the beginning of this statement, we are advocates of democracy and will do all that is necessary to promote and preserve it.

“However, what will preserve democracy in our territories will not be the threat or use of military force against sovereign nations but the observance of the core values and rules of democracy.

“It is up to our Presidents or political leaders to do the needful. It is in consideration of these that we join other organisations and respected voices in saying No to War!”