Former Kaduna governor Nasir el-Rufai has cautioned the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regarding potential military intervention in Niger Republic.
ECOWAS, led by President Bola Tinubu, warned of using force if Niger’s coup leaders don’t restore power to ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
Last week, ECOWAS defense chiefs met in Accra and activated their standby force in Niger.
While endorsing dialogue, they refined elements for possible military intervention, including timing, resources, and deployment details.
El-Rufai tweeted that a conflict within the sub-region would be a war between brothers.
“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,” el-Rufai tweeted.
“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 plea to avoid military intervention in Niger aligns with recent sentiments from stakeholders in Nigeria’s northern region.
The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) also urged President Tinubu to prioritize diplomatic solutions for the crisis.
They cautioned against deploying Nigerian troops to Niger Republic, noting potential negative impacts on seven northern states sharing borders with the nation — Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe, and Borno.
Following the warning, Tinubu engaged with governors from five of these states as part of his efforts to collaboratively address the situation.