Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, has again warned President Bola Tinubu against invading Niger Republic.
According to him, Tinubu and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which he is currently chairing, have enough room to dialogue with leaders of the Niger coup.
George, who spoke during an interview with Arise Television on Tuesday (today), said a country has to consider its national interest before considering going to war.
“When they meet tomorrow, I am advising that there’s enough room for dialogue, and the underlining crisis that is engaging all these francophone countries today dates back to the French approach to their own system of colonialism.
“While the British had colonies, the French had the principle of assimilation. In other words, they didn’t let go. There’s no French country in the whole of Africa where the French government does not have a minimum of a battalion stationed there,” George said.
The former military General added: “You learn from your experiences. We were in ECOMOG, which was the country that was responsible militarily, financially, and personnel-wise for the armed forces. We did extremely well; what was the benefit to Nigeria?
“Before you consider going to war as a nation, you teach your boys the national interest of your country; anything that falls out of that is not a major concern to you, but if anybody infringes on your national interest, then you can go to war because you are going there to defend something so vital to your country.
“Learning from the ECOMOG experience, how can we now go to Niger? What is the benefit? My appeal is that the ECOWAS heads of state should be more careful. The Ukraine-Russia war today has lingered on for over a year; they are still fighting, and innocent people are dying. War is not a tea party, and it is better to jaw-jaw than war-war.”
“I am talking from experience and the fact that Niger is not the only country in the whole geo-political belt of the francophone countries that have a military administration, from Guinea to Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Sudan. That takes you from the west Atlantic all the way to the Red Sea, right across the whole belt of Africa in the Sahara. Why Niger?” he added.
OsunDailyNG reports that George had earlier cautioned President Tinubu against invading Niger Republic in a bid to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to power.
Recalled that on July 25, 2023, General Abdourahamane Tchiani-led Presidential Guard had detained and taken over power from Bazoum.
Following the coup, ECOWAS imposed sanctions on the Niger Republic while also threatening military intervention.
Reacting, however, in a letter addressed to the Nigerian leader, George warned Tinubu to think deeply before intervening in the Niger crisis.
He noted that Nigeria has numerous challenges, urging the president to focus on solving the challenges presently rocking the country rather than embarking on a needless war.
According to the PDP chieftain, the president’s steps so far are commendable, but he needs to think twice before entering another country militarily.
