Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu has opposed the move by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to use force to restore democracy in Niger.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the democratically elected president of the Niger Republic, who is currently being detained, was ousted by a military coup d’etat on July 27.
Kalu, the senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, said in a statement on Thursday that Nigeria should not join ECOWAS’ plan of military invasion. He said Nigerian soldiers should not die in another country because of war.
Kalu said Nigeria could support ECOWAS with finance but not with soldiers. He said that fighting a war in Niger was not necessary, as no one was sure of the sponsors or how it would end.
Kalu suggested that Nigeria, the United States, and France could intervene in Niger by giving the coup leaders between one year and six months to hand over to a new government.
Kalu added that if ECOWAS would cost Nigeria the peace it needs, there was nothing wrong with pulling out of ECOWAS. He said Nigeria was a sovereign nation, and the concerns of its people mattered most.
The statement reads, “The Niger Republic is in our backyard and Nigeria should not join ECOWAS’ plan of military invasion. If the US, France, and the UK want war in Niger, they can send their own people.
“Nigeria can support with finance but not with our soldiers. No Nigerian soldier deserves to die in another country because of war.
“Fighting a war in the Niger Republic is not necessary as no one is sure of the sponsors and how it would end.
“Nigeria, the US, and France can intervene in Niger by giving them between one year and six months to hand over to a new government.
“If ECOWAS would cost Nigeria the peace it needs, there is nothing wrong with pulling out of ECOWAS. Nigeria is a sovereign nation and the concerns of its people matter most.
