El-Rufai Warns Tinubu of Civil War Between Brothers Over Niger Crisis
The former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu that any military intervention by ECOWAS in Niger would amount to a declaration of civil war against northern Nigeria.
El-Rufai, who has been at loggerheads with Tinubu over ministerial appointment, made this remark in a tweet on Tuesday morning.
El-Rufai said that he was reminded of the 1970s rock classic by Dire Straits, ‘Brothers in Arms’, because a war within the subregion would be a war between brothers.
He said that the people of Niger Republic share the same ethnic, cultural and religious ties with those living in northern Nigeria, and urged for dialogue and diplomacy to avoid a fratricidal conflict.
He tweeted: “As ECOWAS beats the drums of war, I recall the 1970s rock classic by Dire Straits – ‘Brothers in Arms’, because a war within our subregion is a war between brothers. Indeed, the people of Niger Republic are one and the same with those living in Northern Nigeria. Let us bend therefore over backwards to avoid this civil war between brothers.”
El-Rufai’s warning comes after ECOWAS, under the chairmanship of Tinubu, ordered its troops to be on standby to restore constitutional order in Niger, following the coup that toppled President Mohamed Bazoum by members of his presidential guards in July.
On August 10, at the second extraordinary summit on the socio-political situation in Niger held in Abuja, ECOWAS president, Omar Alieu Touray, gave a directive for the regional bloc’s forces to be ready to attack the country.
“We direct the committe of defence staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately,” Touray said, adding that the action was to “restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.”
Tinubu, at the summit, pointed out that the ongoing political crisis in Niger was a threat to the stability of Nigeria and other West African countries. He said that ECOWAS would not tolerate any violation of democracy and human rights in the region. He also called for dialogue and peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Newsflash Nigeria is an online newspaper that is developed and written exclusively for Nigerians. It’s packed with up-to-the-minute Local and National Economy News, Share & Capital Market, Health, Sports, Education, Technology, Business and Opinions.
To make further advert enquiries or place an order, please contact us at [email protected] and +2348053316946 and WhatsApp number 08033546732
FOLLOW US ON GOOGLE
