A group, Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) consisting of 52 groups, have told the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) not to deploy troops to Niger Republic over the recent coup that took place in the country, thegazellenews.com reports.
CNG’s spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, stated this in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, 11 August, 2023.
“We emphatically repudiate any form of preference for military action against Niger or any other West African or African nation by any regional or international community/institution”.
The group urged both the military authorities in Niger and the ECOWAS to open and allow all doors for discussions devoid of any hidden agenda or unnecessary preconditions for genuine dialogue.
The Coalition kicked against the burning of the Nigerian flag in Niger and also the ridiculing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by Nigeriens, and demanded that the military junta orders a stop to it.
They also called on African leaders to identify a neutral location within Africa at which to hold such honest discussions to finally bring a bloodless enduring end to the impasse.
“We call on the leaders of the coup in Niger Republic to discard their rigid stance and unhelpful show of bravado and embrace all diplomatic overtures in order to reach a peaceful and bloodless resolution of the matter, keeping in mind that threats and conflicts have very little or no utility value.
“We condemn with all our might the burning in Niger of Nigerian national flag which is our symbol of nationhood and demand the military junta to order it to stop forthwith.
“To declare the discrediting of our President and leaders not only immoral and illegal, but also abhorrent to Nigeria’s collective sensibilities and ordinary decency and therefore unacceptable, “the group said.
“CNG demands from the military leaders in Niger action against the continues burning of Nigerian flag and to warn that they stand to lose the ample public sympathy freely given to them by the vast majority of Nigerians.
The Coalition also called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to reconsider its stand on the closure of boarders with Niger and the seizure of electricity supply, just as they also warn against unnecessary escalation of the situation by the unsolicited intervention of the international community and other dubious foreign interests.
“It is imperative that they understand that bilateral relationships are guided by the principles of sovereignty, promotion of peace and the standards that guide legitimate interference.
“Hence, their intervention, exclamations and actions in the affairs of the continent should not be drawn to discountenance the effort of African to protect its citizens and to impose law and order.
“It is important to call the attention of the entire international community/organisations to weigh the impact and consequence of a destabilized West African subregion which will certainly threaten the peace and security of the entire Africa,” the group added.
