Atiku Advises Caution Regarding Military Involvement In Niger Republic

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has issued a cautionary message to the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regarding the use of military intervention to restore democratic order in Niger Republic.

In a statement he personally signed in Abuja on Thursday, Abubakar, who is also the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emphasized the need for sustained diplomatic efforts to address the crisis in Niger.

He expressed concern that the military intervention in Niger had led to heightened tension across the West African sub-region, drawing international attention to the neighboring country of Nigeria.

Abubakar highlighted the troubling trend of increasing military interventions in various states within the sub-region over the past three years, making the situation even more alarming.

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While acknowledging Nigeria’s expected role as a regional leader, Abubakar stressed the importance of both curbing the crisis of political leadership in Niger and restoring democratic governance in the country.

While recognizing the commendable efforts of ECOWAS in working towards reinstating democracy in Niger, Abubakar urged the regional body to refrain from resorting to military hostilities that could worsen the situation.

He emphasized that the crisis demands diplomatic engagement and effective channels for dialogue must be consistently maintained.

As the world looks to Nigeria for leadership in achieving peaceful conflict resolution, Abubakar underlined the urgency of addressing the crisis reasonably and without delay.

Abubakar acknowledged the challenging circumstances facing the West African region and asserted that any actions taken to promptly resolve the crisis must prioritize the triumph of democracy above all.

In conclusion, Abubakar called for a measured and diplomatic approach to resolving the crisis in Niger, advocating for the restoration of democratic governance as the ultimate objective.