An Abuja based Public commentator and political analyst,Ambassador Abraham James has described the rising calls for war and Military action against the Niger Junta as undemocratic and deliberate action by some few ECOWAS leaders to protect their inadequacies, shortcomings and fears.
According to Ambassador James, the clamour for war by about eight ECOWAS leaders is a self defense mechanism by some few to drag majority to fight a war that has no basis, but costly.
The Abuja based Public commentator and political analyst,Ambassador Abraham James, in his open letter to President Bola Tinubu,titled VOICE OF REASONS, noted that the ECOWAS commission was established to promote economic cooperation among member states in order to raise living standards and promote economic development, and that they should not deviate but sustain the tenents of peace keeping.
He also pointed out that the Fundamental principles of ECOWAS include the Equality and interdependence of member states, Inter-state cooperation,harmonization of policies and integration of programmes,. Solidarity and collective self-reliance, Non-aggression between member states and Maintenance of peace among states,stability and security.
He noted that despite the fact that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has fifteen West African Countries as members,established on the 28th May,1975 with the signing of treaty of Lagos and as a peacekeeping force has sent joint military forces to intervene in many African countries in the past, “and now the drum of war in Niger.”is not justified as War is not and can never be the best option.
“The ECOWAS instrumentality of peace keeping has turned to hunting perceived outlaws among member states, but the issue is that both the interventionist and invaders are undemocratic, the juntas are not democratic neither are those planning an invasion of Niger wether as a body or self determined to protect their interests.”
“We have a divided ECOWAS, out of fifteen member states only Eight are active in the move to invade Niger,others are either adamant or non- chalant,talk less of others like Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and even Chad,we must not just see intervention by juntas, but should ask what caused it or prompted the intervention in the first instance.”
” The cause must be the concern, not pre-emptive medication, which I will call self medication by some of the ECOWAS leaders to protect their inadequacies, shortcomings and fears,this may not be viewed as germane , but truth, it is a self defense mechanism by some few to drag majority to fight a war that has no basis, but costly. ”
“Nigeria will not escape the brunt and scars, due to our proximity and knowledge of each others internal secrets and operations,just like the Electricity supply was cut off, Niger can equally dam off the water supply that power our turbines in the River Niger and it will be more devastating,the other members of ECOWAS are fighting a proxy and self defense war, Nigeria is fighting a brother,relative and family member, the relationship between Nigeria and Niger is too thick and close to be sacrificed on the altar of selfishness and self defense, if Burkina Faso,Guinea,Mali and Chad were not sanctioned, Niger should be given fair treatment and equitable diplomatic protocol others in the same class are enjoying”
” We must not lose focus of the fact that Mohammad Bazoum the deposed president of Niger that ECOWAS wants to return to power is with the juntas,they have the negotiation power and can use him as a human shield, while holding their grounds, the earlier ECOWAS withdraws the threat and go back to diplomatic round table for negotiations and resolutions the better for the region”
“If ECOWAS fails this litmus test, it will be difficult for the regional body to coordinate itself and others in the interest of the commission and its member states, ECOWAS pride of place is in the successful,peaceful and Non Military invasion of Niger as a sovereign state and getting the juntas to release to ECOWAS ,Bazoum unharmed and his family to enable them continue living happily than being convicted and or otherwise.”
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