Orji Uzor Kalu, the senator representing Abia North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to use military action against the Niger Republic’s Junta.
This was as the senator advocated that Nigeria should withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), if the regional body insists that Nigeria must take military action against Niger.
In a video shared on his Facebook page, Kalu warned Tinubu, who doubles as Chairman of ECOWAS, not to let the United States and France force him to make militarily intervention in the Niger political crisis.
According to the federal lawmaker, the political crisis in Niger Republic is an internal affair, and no Nigerian soldier is worth losing in the crisis.
He said, “Niger Republic is at our backyard and Nigeria should not join ECOWAS’ plan of military invasion. If the US, France and 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 Niger Republic is not necessary as no one is sure of the sponsors and how it would end. Nigeria, 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 pulling out of ECOWAS. Nigerian is a sovereign nation and the concerns of its people matters most.
“I am appealing to the conscience of the Niger ruling military junta to release the Ousted President, Mohammed Bazoum and allow him go on exile to another country.
“No one will bring war to you if you release him and his family because it’s not necessary. The leaders should also plan a transitional program that would see to the return of civil rule in earnest.”
