Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri has advised Nigeria on what to do to restore order in the Niger Republic.
OsunDailyNG recalls that some members of the presidential guards engaged in an “anti-Republican demonstration” carried out a coup attempt against Niger President, Mohamed Bazoum.
Reacting to the chaos in the African country, Omokri opined that Nigeria can successfully restore democracy to the country if it employs a stick-and-carrot approach.
Omokri urged President Bola Tinubu who doubles as the chairman of ECOWAS to place an embargo on the country.
He argued that nothing should be allowed to go in or out except for medical supplies.
He also asked Nigeria to shut down its electricity supply to the embattled country.
For the carrot approach, Omokri advised that the agitators should be offered immunity if they choose to surrender.
Speaking via Twitter, he wrote, “Niger Republic is a landlocked country. It should be possible for ECOWAS, led by Nigeria, to restore the democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum, to power by placing an embargo on the country. Nothing must go in, and nothing must come out except emergency medical supplies. No food, no beverages, no weapons, no cars, no nothing. Niger also depends largely on Nigeria for electric power.
“Abuja should shut the tap on that until the democratically elected President is returned to office. In addition, the Kano-Maradi rail line construction currently going on should be suspended.
“And in addition to the sticks mentioned above, some carrots should be dangled, such as complete immunity for the coup plotters, as well as allowing the ring leaders to leave the country along with a promise to pay them a robust maintenance allowance.
“There are other ways apart from military intervention to reverse this coup. Use sanctions and diplomacy to put the squeeze on these guys the way President Obasanjo put the squeeze on the putschists that attempted to overthrow President Fradique de Menezes of São Tomé and Príncipe in 2003.”
