By Muhammadu Sabiu
The ECOWAS Parliament was divided on Saturday over the idea of using military force to address the political crisis in the Niger Republic and restore civil government.
Some members of the parliament demanded that military intrusion into regional affairs be stopped in its tracks, while others said that dialogue and diplomacy were the best ways to address the problem.
The virtually exceptional conference to discuss the political crisis in Niger included no fewer than 22 parliamentarians.
Some members who opposed military action emphasized the economic hardships that the Nigerien may pass through if invaded.
According to Ali Djibo from the Niger Republic, the crisis has already forced the closure of at least 9,000 schools.
“War will only compound the economic woes the peoples of the sub-region are already going through.
“As we speak, over a thousand trucks, loaded with goods, are stranded at the border.
“If a coup happened in Nigeria or Cote’d’Iviore tomorrow, where’s the ECOWAS going to mobilise troops to fight the Nigerian or Ivorian military? How many borders are we going to close?
“We must also bear in mind that if we’re applying the ECOWAS treaty, it should be applicable to all.”
Speaking in favour of military involvement in Niger, members of the ECOWAS Parliament claimed that diplomacy had played a significant role in the rise in the number of military coups in the West African area.
In his contribution, Adebayo Balogun suggested that ECOWAS officials were suggesting military intervention to overthrow the regime, not calling for an all-out conflict.
He noted that Niger had signed the updated ECOWAS non-military involvement protocol.
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