Former Presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has slammed Russia over the recent warning to ECOWAS against military force in Niger Republic.
OsunDailyNG reports that Russia’s warning follows the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) members’ decision to deploy an immediate standby force in Niger Republic to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to power.
However, the Russian foreign ministry, in a statement on Friday, said the military intervention in Niger could escalate the crisis and could lead to a protracted confrontation.
The ministry added that the invasion of the West African nation could lead to a sharp destabilisation of the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region as a whole.
Reacting to the development, Omokri, in a post shared on Twitter, questioned the audacity of Russia in issuing a warning to ECOWAS about intervening in the Niger coup.
According to him, African leader didn’t poke their noses when Putin invaded Crimea, therefore, Russia has no business with the West Africa issues.
He tweeted: “Why will Russia be warning Nigeria and ECOWAS about intervening in Niger? Did we interfere when Russia invaded Ukraine? Did we poke our noses when Putin invaded Crimea? What is Russia’s business with West Africa? Did Putin not panic when Wagner and Yevgeny Prigozhin attempted a coup against him? Did he not appeal to the Belarusian President to intervene to save him? Did he not try to rally the Russian people to defend their ‘democracy’ as it is?
“So, if a coup in Russia is not welcome, why should a coup in Niger be welcome? Was Nigerien the President, Mohamed Bazoum, not democratically elected? Honestly, African leaders tolerate too much interference! This is not a Western or Russian issue. Mind your businesses and leave the ECOWAS to mind theirs.”
