Senate not backing Tinubu for war in Niger Republic – Akpabio
Following a reported heated closed-door debate among senators, Friday, over a letter addressed to the Upper Chambers outlining plans by the Nigerian Government in response to the coup in the Niger Republic, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has claimed that the lawmakers are not backing President Bola Tinubu on a quest for war.
President Tinubu had written the senate, informing the Upper Chambers of a proposed military action coded as ‘reactivating of the border drilling exercise,’ and other sanctions against the junta in Niger.
Tinubu’s letter to the Senate was read on the floor of the senate by its President, Godswill Akpabio.
The letter read: “Political situation in Niger. Following the unfortunate political situation in the Niger Republic culminating in the overthrow of its President, ECOWAS under my leadership condemned the coup in its entirety and resolved to seek the return of the democratically elected government.
“In a bid to restore peace, ECOWAS convened a meeting and came out with a communique: Closure and monitoring of all land borders with the Niger Republic and reactivating of the border drilling exercise; Cutting off electricity supply to the Niger Republic; mobilising international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communiqué; Preventing the operation of commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic; blockade of goods in transit to Niger, especially from Lagos and eastern seaports; Embarking on sensitisation of Nigerians and Nigeriens on the imperative of these actions, particularly via social media.
However, during a closed-door debate over the letter, the senators were heavily divided over a planned military action, as majority reportedly warned against it.
Meanwhile, reacting to the letter written to it, Akpabio said the senate has not received any communication from Tinubu to engage in war with Niger Republic concerning the coup in that neighbouring country.
Akpabio who made the confirmation on Saturday after an executive session of the Senate ahead of the last lap of the screening of Ministers designate, explained that Tinubu who is also the ECOWAS Chairman, only requested the National Assembly to give its support to the ECOWAS resolutions.
Senate thereafter urged the ECOWAS Parliament to condemn the coup in its entirety, while seeking a permanent solution to the crisis.
Tension has since, Thursday, reported escalated at the Nigeria-Niger border town of Bosso following the Nigerian government-led Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decision to impose economic sanctions on Niger Republic on the back of the military coup in the country, which ousted the civilian president, Mohammed Bazoum from office, last July 26.
Nigeria followed up on the sanction by cutting off electricity supplies to Niger Republic amid reports of a planned military invasion of the country to be spearheaded by the Nigerian military.
However, while the Nigerian military has denied the report of a planned invasion of Niger, the decision to cut off electricity supplies to the neighbouring West African nation by Nigeria has yet to be refuted.
This is as Nigeriens have in their large numbers rallied in mass support of the coup plotters have taken now taken matters in their own hands, as credible reports emerged of their citizens blockading supplies by stationed Nigerian troops in Bosso Town fighting Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents close to the Niger border.
Furthermore, the Niger Republic junta, Friday, terminated diplomatic ties with four countries, namely; Nigeria, Togo, United States and France, and subsequently recalled its ambassador to those listed nations.
