By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja 

The Reunion of Episcopal Conferences of West Africa (RECOWA) has urged the Authority of the Economic Community of West African States  (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government to restrain from the use of force in the effort to restore the constitutional government in Niger

RECOWA, comprising all Catholic Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops in West Africa, also urged the sub-regional leaders to learn from what happened in Libya in 2011, describing it as a tragic example of the disastrous consequences for people’s lives, dignity and future.

The Clerics’ concern stemmed from what might be the consequences of the proposed military intervention in Niger Republic in the aftermath of the Coup d’état, which ousted the elected government of President Mohammad Bazoum

The Bishops’ concerns  were contained in a two-page letter addressed to the President of ECOWAS, Heads of State of ECOWAS and the Transitional Authorities in Niger on August 7, calling for dialogue and reconciliation rather than belligerence and military response.

The letter, signed by the President of RECOWA and Bishop of Agboville, Most Rev. Alexis Touabli Youlo, was sequel to the military coup that displaced the democratically elected government of President Mohammed Bazoum in Niger Republic and the resolve of the ECOWAS Authority to deploy all means necessary, even the use of force, to restore the constitutional order in Niger.

Despite a seven-day ultimatum issued to the military regime led by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani to restore Niger’s constitutional government, all other diplomatic measures taken by the ECOWAS, African Union, European Union and the United Nations to resolve the Niger crisis have not brought about order and stability to the troubled country.

In its two-page letter, therefore, RECOWA canvassed pacifism rather belligerence in the management of this crisis, inviting every actor within outside the sub-region to show restraint, discernment and responsibility.

The letter read in part: “We, the Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops of the Reunion of Episcopal Conferences of West Africa, after consultations, are deeply concerned by the sub-regional tension linked to the political situation in Niger. Faced with the events currently unfolding in the sub-region, the lives of the people of West Africa are at stake.

“Keeping as our central vision the integrity of the people and emphasising respect for human dignity and a high sense of accountability to mankind, history and God the Creator, we affirm that nothing can justify the creation or facilitation of an environment that is destructive to our people.”

The letter sternly observed that no individual, national, regional, geo-political or denominational interest or project should take precedence over the preservation of life, human dignity and the well being of the future generation in West Africa and beyond.

On this ground, the letter further read: “We, your pastors, are convinced, and the history of people teaches us that violence does not solve any problem, not even the one that triggered it. We affirm that any military intervention in Niger at this time would contemplate the situation of the people of Niger and the sub-region more than it would provide solutions. 

“Terrorism already has a macabre toll of widows, orphans, displaced persons, the hungry, the maimed and so on. People are not expecting the regional, African and other institutions to add to this toll,” the Catholic bishops of West Africa observed in its letter to the sub-regional leaders.

In retrospect, the bishops cited the military intervention in Libya by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in 2011, describing the military intervention as a tragic example of the disastrous consequences for people’s lives, dignity and future. 

They, therefore, said: “We cannot remain silent in the face of such situations and must learn lessons to ensure that such events do not happen again, particularly with Niger as a potential epicentre of a similar crisis. As a Bishops’ conference, our mission is intimately linked to the promotion of reconciliation and peace. 

“We firmly believe that every human being is called to live in peace and to be a peacemaker in accordance with the teachings of the Bible and those of the holy books of other religious confessions, which exhort us to work for reconciliation and brotherhood between all peoples. 

“Peace is a precious gift that we must cultivate and preserve together. It is like a common mat that we must weave together with each person contributing to his or her own thread,” the bishops canvassed measures to deepen and promote peace within the sub-region.

They also challenged  all men, women, and national, sub-regional and international organisations to play a positive role in easing tensions and promoting lasting peace, noting that the people of the region “love and accept each other and are constantly seeking to improve their coexistence.

“This is a natural gift that we must support and encourage. Every actor and institution should contribute positively to this process by promoting dialogue and cooperation,” the bishops further demanded.

They called on the African Union and ECOWAS to show responsibility before history and to revisit their respective missions. At this critical and delicate time, according to them, it is essential that these organisations play an active role in the search for peaceful and lasting solutions, putting the interests of the people and respect for their dignity first.

The bishops called on the sub-regional leaders to respond decisively to this call for restraint, discernment and responsibility, but work together to build a future of peace and prosperity for West Africa region and Africa as a whole.

Islamic Clerics  Advise Tinubu Against Military Intervention

As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government meet today, to decide on the action to be taken against the military junta that overthrew the democratically elected government in Republic of Niger, Islamic clerics have warned against the use of military action in bringing back President Mohamed Bazoum.

The Islamic clerics after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, warned  against military action in Niger and advocated for diplomacy.

The ECOWAS Heads of State and Government had about a week ago given ultimatum to the military junta that sacked the democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum to restore the democratic dispensation

The junta head of Presidential Guards, Abdourahamane Tchiani, took over after a coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, on July 26, 2023.

The ECOWAS Heads of State and Government headed by President Tinubu in a meeting in Abuja issued a seven-day ultimatum to the military junta in Niger Republic to reinstate Bazoum as democratically elected President or face a range of stiff sanctions.

The Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS, in its resolution, recognised Bazoum as the legitimate President of the nation.

The regional body also threatened to impose land border closures and no-fly zone conditions on Niger Republic should the military coup masterminds fail to heed its ultimatum.

It also tasked all Chiefs of Defense Staff of the member-states to proceed for an emergency meeting to strategize on effective ways to implement a possible military operation to restore constitutional order to office. 

In an interview with Journalists in Hausa language after the meeting with President Tinubu, Professor Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, Secretary General of Jamaatu Nasrul Islam (JNI), said that the meeting discussed the proposed military action in Niger.

Professor Aliyu said they were invited by President Tinubu based on their positions as clerics and they respectively honoured the invitation.

He said, “Our visit also serves as working (official) visit. We discussed on important matters relating to our dear country and we gave our advise on good leadership, we discussed on subsidy removal and we gave our own advice on that too and we told him we wish he had had this consultation before subsidy removal so that its implementation would have been smooth devoid of all this hardship. 

“Regarding Niger issues we told him our stand which is dialogue. Diplomacy is the best option, military intervention will not yield the desired outcome. We do not support military intervention, we are emphasising the use of diplomacy. 

“When we intervened in Liberia how did we get out of the mess. Look at what is happening in Libya, we should try as much as we can to avoid that scenario. Niger has all the tendencies of becoming Libya if we are not careful.”

On the assurance given to them by the President, he said, “We are on the same page. He is not insisting on military intervention too. All peaceful means will be followed and exhausted.” 

Further asked whether they are worried that ECOWAS position may strain long good brotherhood between Nigeria and Niger Republic, the cleric said:

“Nigeria and Niger are just like two brothers, we share border, culture, family, languages and even religion. Definitely we have to trade with caution and solve the issue amicably.”

It will be recalled that President Tinubu had on Tuesday directed the acting governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN to invoke financial restrictions against entities or individuals that have any link with the military junta.

President Tinubu had on Sunday evening met with the Northern Governors, whose states are sharing boundary with Niger Republic at the Presidential Villa, Abuja

Although the agenda of the meeting was not made public, a presidency source said it was part of consultations by the President on the situation in Niger. 

The governors in attendance were Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Mai Malam Buni (Yobe), Idris Nasir (Kebbi) and Dr Dikko Radda (Katsina).

It was gathered that the Northern elites have kicked against any military might against the military juncta following what would be the consequence of such action on Nigeria.

The meeting according to a presidency source was convened to get input from the northern Governors as the seven day ultimatum for the military to reinstate the overthrown President has expired.

Recall again that some of resolutions read by the President of ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, at the Abuja summit include the “call for the immediate release and reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum as President and Head of State of the Republic of Niger and for the full restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.

“Reject any form of resignation that may purportedly come from His Excellency, President Mohamed Bazoum; considered the illegal detention of President Bazoum as a hostage situation and hold the authors of the attempted coup that are solely and fully responsible for the safety and security of His Excellency President Mohammed Bazoum, as well as members of his family and government.

“In the event the Authority’s demands are not met within one week, take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Nigeria.

“Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Asia. Freeze all service transactions including energy transactions.

“Freeze assets of the Republic of Niger in Aqua Central Bank. Freeze of assets of the Niger State and the state enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks. 

“Suspension of measure from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID”, he said.

President Tinubu had via a memo to the Senate asked for approval for military action as agreed by ECOWAS.

But the Senate rejected the request and rather asked Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the Economic  Community  of  West  African  States (ECOWAS) and other leaders of the region to tread with caution in addressing the political quagmire  in Niger Republic.

Rising from a closed  – door  session  that lasted close to two hours to discuss the letter written to the Senate  on Friday, by President Tinubu on the decisions  taken by the regional body, the Senate asked ECOWAS and its leaders to strengthen political and diplomatic options and other means with a view to resolving the political crisis in Niger Republic.