Emmanuel Ochayi
Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has called for a swift return to constitutional democracy in the Niger Republic
In a statement issued via his verified social media platform on Sunday, Obi considered the political crisis in the West African nation a pressing concern for Nigeria’s security.
While acknowledging efforts by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Obi called for the adoption of diplomacy and dialogue in handling the crisis.
The former Anambra State Governor advocated a multilateral coalition involving Nigeria, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union (AU), and the United Nations to guide a peaceful return to democracy, highlighting Nigeria’s leadership role.
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The statement read: “Recent developments in the neighboring Niger Republic have become the subject of international attention. For Nigeria, this development is a matter of dire and urgent national interest and security.
“Inevitably, Niger is a hot-button issue for ECOWAS, as well as various international interlocutors. Regardless of the positions taken by various parties that have direct or tangential interests in Niger, primacy must be given to dialogue and diplomacy towards a resolution with minimal disruptive impact on Nigeria and the West African sub-region. A total diplomatic resolution must take into consideration the realpolitik of the West African sub-region.
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“I applaud the respective mediatory efforts by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, and His Royal Highness Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Whereas ECOWAS authorities have indicated that they remain open to various conflict resolution options, diplomacy must remain the overarching imperative in resolving the present crisis.
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“I join the many well-meaning Nigerians who have advocated that any intervention in the crisis, should be pre-eminently through diplomatic dialogue among all strategic interests in the crisis.”
“It is therefore important that the people of Niger are allowed via their national institutions, the opportunity to revert quickly to a representative democratic government. All national, regional, and international assistance should be extended to the people of Niger to return their country to normalcy. While ECOWAS must seek to discourage the spread of military dictatorships in West Africa, the recourse to armed deterrence must be restrained by multilateral diplomatic mechanisms.
“What the situation in Niger urgently calls for is a concerted multilateral coalition of Nigeria, ECOWAS, the AU, and the UN towards a programmed return to a democratic constitutional order. In this process, Nigeria’s leadership role must not be in any doubt.”
Emmanuel Ochayi is a journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, School of first choice and the nations pride. Emmanuel is keen on exploring writing angles in different areas, including Business, climate change, politics, Education, and others.
