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Last weekend in our federal capital, Abuja, Heads of Government under the auspices of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held an emergency meeting, to discuss developments in Niger Republic, where a group of young military officers, brimming with ideological zeal, seized power from the elected leaders. Apart from various economic sanctions, the summit hinted at the possibility of intervening militarily in the internal affairs of another sovereign state to restore as they claimed the practice of democracy. Democracy those of us who have followed democratic practices in various countries in the region couldn’t help but laugh our hearts out.
Do those talking understand what democracy means? How many of those pontificating on democracy now to the point of desiring to waste human lives unduly, yes unnecessarily, are very conversant with basic democratic principles.? How many of them put the principles into practice in management of their respective countries? How many of them have rule of law truly in practice in their countries? Can they beat their chest and say of a truth the electoral system in their countries uphold the sanctity of the leople’s preferences as signified by their voting through the ballot box?
It is needless picking them one by one since that could render this outing one not worth giving a mention. Most of them in a ascended power by means of cronyism. Some of them just succeeded fathers who turned themselves defacto national leaders but where removed on account of natural death, with no special leadership gift go into* office because incumbents whose tenures had come to an inglorious end opted to place a successor who would not only be pliant but turn out worse than his predecessor. Many, not all, were beneficiaries of sham or compromised polls and post elections litigations that always must follow.
These are glaring cases that don’t require any specialized skill to see or identify. These adventures in perfidy have been the chief source of delegitimisation of democracy in Africa and entire black world. We know this to be true and those talking about going to war against a sovereign country know far better. The terrible thing to all of this is these guys commit abberations and by so doing initiate the tearing down of their various countries but rather than let folly taken too far to stop at that point their move acts into the frivolous stage.
The newly elected Chairman of ECOWAS ought not to have been elected or appointed to the office if truly democracy didn’t lose its fine meaning to the group of destroyers. He just participated in a national election, where the election body made away in the very last minute a major component of the poll, the electronic transmission of results from the polling unit which the far greatest majority of citizens had agreed was not only a great innovation in the electoral process but one very capable of ensuring the sanctity of much criticised electoral process. ECOWAS made him Chairman at a time it was very clear the post-election fallouts were still of intense contestation in the election tribunal. Leaders with respect for democracy won’t tread this path. But they did. He who must come to equity must come with clean hands. Pontification is cheap and doesn’t enhance value. Good example does.
Now to other aspects they glossed over in their misplaced bid to start a war they won’t feel the brunt and this has to do with the very important question of sovereignty. All nations by rules of various treaties are equal. It doesn’t matter if they are small, rich or poor. What is more, various globally accepted agreements spell it out very clearly that no other country, no matter how strong, should have enough reason to interfere in the internal affairs of another. This has become a standing rule and when the actions of countries run counter to this general consensus, nearly the whole world frowns8/ at it.
Those who defy world opinion to breech the law find they receive no support. America and more recently Russia, have been the chief culprits in this unholy attitude of forcefully stepping into other countries’ territory. Yet, the world never accepts such unruly behavior when they do occur. The world may lack the ability to push or deter these countries from their reckless adventures, but the absence of goodwill often reproduces itself in the disaster such moves become. America left Afghanistan in shame, same for Russia when it strayed into same space. Imperialism scattered Libya with intent to collect crude oil. The territory is in ruins and the atmosphere for near free oil is hardly available. Those who mooted the rule that countries should stay off internal affairs of others drew from history. They were aware invasions are precursors to establishing a near state of nature situation around an axis.
Insecurity on a very large scale is harvested when rules that are products of experiences get circumvented in the bid to satisfy narrow interest, especially of the tiny ruling class who thrive on “state capture”. One can hear some fellows ask if external forces shouldn’t be needed to flush out leaders who become monsters in office? Leaders who begin to devour the population just to perpetually remain in office. Humans and countries must be interested and concerned. Even at that, intense diplomatic efforts remain the most potent tool. Where leaders cross the red line, economic sanctions should follow. No person desires to be isolated and no leader survives too long running on the lane of isolation. His days in power will be nasty and short. This war being mooted would be costly, forces involved are far more complicated than our leaders know. Or they may know but choose to sacrifice lives of their nationals to curry support of the western world, especially America having lost grounds at home. Tinubu needs American understanding more than ever before but it shouldn’t be on the blood of innocent citizens.
We, Nigerians of all the countries in the ECOWAS union should worry most for reasons that are strong and obvious even to the daft. When we talk of military invasion as an alternative, everyone knows what is meant is essentially Nigeria squaring up against Niger Republic. Only we have a bit of the means given that most economies in the region have been run down. Even in time past when things were averagely good we bore the brunt, a critical review still shows only us are capable to offer effective lead and participation. The big question is: with suffocating economic conditions and general climate of massive insecurity back home, are we in good condition to start external war? Truth is we are not. Any contrary position would amount to grand deception. This we can’t afford today.
Yes, countries do go abroad to assist but conditions apply. There should be obvious gains to be reaped. There is none in Niger Republic. In all our military forays in Africa and elsewhere we got nothing, rather those we helped at great cost turned round to be the country’s worst enemies. They are the ones at&s# the forefront of demarketing our country, demonizing our citizens and deporting them at the slightest of excuses. We return to the ECOWAS in Niger. The intervention raises vital questions.
There were coups and take overs in Mali, Chad and Guinea, nobody said anything of worth. The question is what is very special about the events in Niger Republic that suddenly ECOWAS Heads of States are running helter skelter? We need education on this. This writer and many others believe the Heads of States of the African subregion appear once again to be on a journey of infirmy as has always been the case. One can pointedly say they have left substance to chase after shadow. The major thrust right now should be why the region lacks effective leadership? How come their brand of democracy practice democracy doesn’t produce democratic dividends for their people? If they give attention in this direction and are honest about it, the region would be far better for it. It is a far better task than war against themselves using foreign made weapons of mass destruction.
As we head to conclude, President Tinubu must be very clear on the fact that Nigerian citizens have no issues whatsoever with Niger. There is no need to start any war with the country. It would be senseless since the country and her people have nothing whatsoever to gain from the venture even if it succeeds. Filial relationships some have in that country is been maintained without threat to anyone. Everyone knows former President Muhammadu Buhari’s attachment to Niger Republic and to the toppled civilian President. We know Tinubu is Buhari’s ally but these are not enough reasons to send our troops into that country.
We enlighten President Tinubu that the uprising in the sahel region is not essentially about local disenchantment. It is fight of the Super Powers using surrogates. It may be easy to enter but it won’t be as tasteful as it is being made to look. What is more, a fight near us would open our countries to the things that have always trailed us which we have over and over again refused to address. We don’t want a convolution in our country beyond what is currently assailing us. This is the the chief reason our President must stay clear that line of action. Diplomacy remains the key option.
Finally, the way the heads of government convened a meeting to want to save one of their own is same way they organize another to focus on discovering democracy and her true practice in their various countries. Coup in any country in Africa as it stands today will receive full acceptance and support of nearly all the citizens. Wide acceptance is all that is required for a regime to establish legitimacy. Military boys will get this easily because instead of democracy they have been left with “democrazy” a kind of governance system that looks like democracy but is very far from it. Society has been destroyed and people dislocated. The pains are immense. Life has become brutish, very nasty and short. Only effective and productive governance steeped in local experience and relevance can create stability. Not current system that throws up deep rooted contradictions. Contradictions by their nature disorganize every equilibrium, no matter what anyone does or would try to do.
