Tempers flared among Nigerian senators on Saturday as they debated President Bola Tinubu’s request to send troops to Niger Republic. The request was made to enforce the resolution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the junta that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum to restore him to power or face military action. The senators were divided on whether to grant approval to the request or not.
Many senators from the North opposed the move, arguing that it would disturb the peace in their region. Senators from seven northern states that share a border with Niger Republic, namely Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe, and Borno, vehemently rejected the deployment of troops.
The senators expressed their dissatisfaction with the coup and the way the new military ruler and his men were behaving towards Nigeria and other West African countries. They discussed the potential implications of the war on their own states and the entire country if military force was used.
After a difficult debate, it was suggested that the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the Senate leadership meet with Tinubu to appeal for a diplomatic solution to the problem. The Senate resolved to advise Tinubu to explore diplomatic and political options to address the coup in Niger Republic.
Tinubu had requested the support of the Senate in deploying military personnel to Niger Republic and cutting off electricity supply to the neighboring country. He had also met with other ECOWAS leaders to discuss ways to restore democracy in Niger.
In its resolutions, the Senate called on the President of Nigeria, who is also the chairman of ECOWAS, to encourage other leaders to strengthen political and diplomatic options to resolve the political impasse in Niger Republic. The Senate also mandated its leadership to engage with the President on how to best resolve the issue.
ECOWAS defense chiefs have also made decisions emphasizing dialogue and economic and security sanctions as necessary steps to resolving the crisis in Niger. The defense chiefs resolved to prioritize dialogue in their approach to resolving the crisis.
Overall, the Senate advised diplomatic and political solutions to address the coup in Niger Republic and restore democratic governance in the country in the near future.