Niger coup: Military intervention’ll deepen Nigeria’s economic crisis, NADECO US warns

By Chukwuma Umeorah

The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO USA) has warned President Bola Tinubu to steer clear of deploying troops to restore democratic governance in Niger Republic saying the move would further deepen Nigeria’s economic crisis.
The group in a statement, yesterday, by its Publicity Secretary, David Adenekan, while condemning the military coup in Niger, urged democracy advocates around the world to come together to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
It described Tinubu’s proposed military intervention as ill-thought-out, saying “it would further deepen Nigeria’s economic crises and NADECO USA will not sit back and allow the Presidency to drag Nigeria that is struggling to survive an impending economic depression, into a wasteful war.
“The billions of naira that may be earmarked to execute this so-called war project, if it is invested to revamp our economy, will save the lives of many who are wallowing and dying in abject poverty. Is this not a shameful show of financial recklessness in a country that is currently deep into financial crisis?.”
NADECO US appealed to the military junta in Niger Republic to promptly return power to a legitimate and democratic authority.
“We strongly urge ECOWAS to do the needful to resolve the political impasse in Niger Republic without military intervention that may result to the loss of lives of innocent citizens. Yes, we demand a bloodless resolution to the current political quagmire in Niger Republic. This is the right thing to do in this political scenario.”
Taking a direct aim at Tinubu’s passion for restoring democracy in the neighboring West African state, NADECO USA, questioned the moral justification of the Nigerian leader to deploy troops to Niger with possible human casualties on both military and civilians.
It challenged the credibility of Tinubu to intervene in Niger Republic’s affairs, given his own legitimacy crisis, saying that Tinubu’s electoral victory as the Ppesident was still under scrutiny in court.
“Not until the final verdict by the court of law, Tinubu does not have such moral right to condemn the military coup in another country. Many people including NADECO USA view the emergence of Tinubu as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria like a coup that may not stand the test of time, and of what moral justification will the leader of an alleged coup have to condemn the military coup in another country?”