Niger: Military action not an option, Olawepo-Hashim cautions Tinubu

Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a former presidential candidate, has made an earnest appeal to Nigeria’s President and Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Bola Tinubu.

Olawepo-Hashim urged Tinubu to reconsider the decision to deploy Nigerian troops for the invasion of Niger, following ECOWAS’ resolution to reinstate the ousted civilian government in the country.

Telescope.ng reports that in a statement released from his media office in Abuja, Olawepo-Hashim expressed his concerns regarding the potential consequences of the military intervention.

While acknowledging that the invasion of Niger might achieve the objective of removing the military junta in Niamey, he emphasized the potential risks of escalating security problems in Nigeria’s North West and North East regions.

He cautioned that remnants of loyalists to the ousted junta could exploit the border regions between Nigeria and Niger to exacerbate the existing security challenges, similar to the activities of bandits in recent years.

The regional leaders of West Africa, during the second extraordinary summit on the Niger crisis held in Abuja, maintained that they are actively seeking a diplomatic solution to the situation.

They have not ruled out the possibility of using force to resolve the crisis, emphasizing that all options are under consideration. The ECOWAS leaders are also demanding the unconditional release and reinstatement of the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

He reaffirmed that Nigeria’s national interest is not directly at stake in Niger, and therefore, deploying Nigerian troops might not be warranted. He advocated for a return to Nigeria’s traditional foreign policy, which promotes peace, security, and non-alignment. He stressed that non-alignment with foreign powers would maintain Nigeria’s independence and international respect, as envisioned by the nation’s founding leaders.

Recalling the aftermath of the invasion of Libya and the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2012, Olawepo-Hashim highlighted the destabilizing impact on the Sahel region and the subsequent security challenges faced by Nigeria. He cautioned against similar repercussions and emphasized that military intervention should be considered an aberration in the contemporary global context.

Olawepo-Hashim urged ECOWAS to prioritize constructive engagement and diplomacy in efforts to restore democratic structures in Niger, underscoring the importance of preserving regional stability and avoiding further security complications in the African continent.