It is always interesting to write about the age-old relationship between the two republics of Nigeria and Niger. The two countries have been something of Siamese twins, always relating closely at both the diplomatic and interpersonal levels.
I was amused seeing a post by someone on WhatsApp, deriding a border post between Katsina in Nigeria and a village in Niger, which was marked by two wooden poles. The person felt it signifies lack of seriousness in the relationship between the two countries. But in reality that only goes to further underscore how closely related the two countries have been.
The people see these borders as an artificial creation. Until colonial masters perfected their scramble for Africa, Katsina (Nigeria) and Maradi (Niger) used to be one entity. Till date, the Emir of Maradi is addressed as Sarkin Katsinan Maradi. Daura (Nigeria) and Damagaram (Niger) also used to be one entity. The Emir of Damagaram is addressed as Sarkin Daura Magarya. These are only a few examples that abound all over the artificial boundary.
For those of us from the northern parts of Nigeria, we hardly see Niger as another country. It is almost the same as how Lagosians perceive Benin Republic or in particular, the city of Cotonou. Inter-marriages between Nigerians and Benin Republic citizens, on one part, as well as northerners with the beautiful damsels of Niger Republic are deeply rooted.
In fact, from independence in 1960, both countries have been pursuing a deeply cordial relationship defined by mutual respect. Each side has based diplomatic relations on non-interference in the internal affairs of the other.
Just like Nigeria, Niger Republic has also had its fair share of military coups. The difference being that in the case of Nigeria, the barrack boys have been frontline respecters of democracy and have since subordinated themselves to civil authority. It is so refreshing that Nigeria has been enjoying (or practicing) at least a semblance of uninterrupted democracy since 1999.
Then penultimate week, the military in Niger Republic struck. The soldiers responsible for securing President Bazoum turned their guns against their commander-in-chief and toppled his government. This came only a few days after Nigeria’s President Tinubu issued a stern warning that military coup would no longer be entertained in any part of West Africa.
The coup in Nigeria therefore came not just as a rude shock, but also as a sharp rebuke to President Tinubu. It was as if it was staged to ridicule the Nigerian leader. Little wonder President Tinubu is livid with rage. His own country, Nigeria, has been experiencing what can be called the peace of the graveyard since he assumed power a little over two months ago. Tension is so thick that it could be sliced up with a knife. Naturally, the last person to welcome any forceful change of government anywhere in Africa, especially Western Africa, is President Tinubu. There is the natural fear that the coup sentiments could spread faster and catch up with Nigeria.
This much was adduced by a popular media personality David Hundeyin, who wrote that “Niger is almost the same geographical size as Nigeria. It has a largely unpoliced border with Libya which is still in near-total chaos and crawling with every armed non-state actor under the sun.
“In other words, Niger is basically Nigeria’s only semi-reliable buffer against the Infinity Wars of the North Sahara. If Niger is destabilised in any way, Nigeria is toast. There has been a coup which has been well received by the citizens. The country is still relatively stable.
“Nigeria needs to take that win and shut up. We need to stop trying to flex muscles we don’t have to prove a nonexistent point about an “ECOWAS” where member states still close borders against each other.
“Talk to that regime in Niamey politely. They have us by the balls and we are NOT in a bargaining position. If we insist on pushing forward with this fool’s errand, none of the people currently in the Drug Pusher’s ear will be there to rescue him when Nigeria’s internal security dissolves and the inevitable military coup happens in Abuja.
“Avoiding a coup is not by packing the Guards Brigade with Yoruba officers.”
Hundeyin concluded his submission by asking the Nigerian judiciary to watch these developments and take copious notes.
Also writing against the backdrop of incessant calls on Nigeria to lead the ECOWAS to forcefully restore democracy in Niger Republic by forcing the coupists out of power, Senator Shehu Sani explained thirteen reasons why Nigeria must not support any armed invasion of Niger Republic.
1.Ecowas armed invasion of Niger Republic is simply a war between Nigeria and Niger because of our proximity.
2.Russia and Wagner May come in support of Niger Republic and Nigeria will have to use its own money to prosecute the operation;Nigeria offsets 70percent of the budget of Ecowas.I don’t see the US Congress approving unlimited arm supplies for Ecowas to wage war against another country.
3.Our Bordering states of Sokoto,Zamfara,Katsina,Jigawa and Yobe will incur direct hit in the event of war.
4.If there was no military action to dislodge the military coupists in Guinea,Mali,Burkina Faso and Chad,why that of Niger Republic?.
5.Why did the American and French military bases inside Niger Republic refused to stop the coup and now they are encouraging us to go to war?
6.Niger has been helpful to Nigeria in the fight against terrorists groups and the country is currently hosting over 303 thousand Nigerian refugees;in the event of war this can be in danger.
7.President Tinubu should not allow himself to be pushed to initiate and trigger a war with a neighbouring country and later be left stranded.No west African country has any military capability to start or sustain a war with Niger Republic;everyone will be relying on Nigeria.
8.We should not cry more than the bereaved;If the people of Niger Republic don’t want Military rule,let them fight to remove it themselves.We fought our own military rulers and some of us even went to jail in that struggle.Let them fight their fight.
9.Saudi Arabia is still bugged down in Yemen after spending hundreds of billions of dollars which we don’t have.
10.The Military Regime in Myanmar is still there and not one stronger nation is contemplating military action.
11.We have a war at home against terrorism let’s concentrate here.
12.Mali,Burkina Faso and Guinean forces will likely enter the war to Support Niger Republic and they will attack Nigerian territories.
13.President Tinubu must continue to toe the line of dialogue with the military authorities in Niger and not War.
Then lastly, another writer named Bimbo Manuel wrote as follows:
“Ok so, a coup de etat happens in Niger Republic and French flags are being burnt, people protesting and demanding that France, their colonial masters should get out of the country.
“Same thing in almost the whole of the African Sahel – Mali, Burkina Faso, etc.
“In fact some of the former French colonies in West Africa have switch from French as official language.
“Now, we recall that Niger has the second largest American military base in Africa, after Sudan.
“The French also have a massive military base in Niger.
“Niger sits right on top of Nigeria.
“Ecowas has threatened to use military options if Niger does not reinstate the ousted president and the coupists have dared them in return.
“Nigeria is also on the verge of a turmoil, what with fuel subsidy removal, threat of labor nationwide strike, mass rage against the government for midwifing their perceived suffering, not to mention what many consider an unpopular president installed via a questioned election.
“And suddenly, James Cleverly, Secretary of State for Foreign, etc, appears in Nigeria to talk about UK support for food security in Nigeria.
“I think this is good. In fact, it’s very good and of course tickles the interest of global watchers, as they probablyintended it to. It will also be interesting to interrogate the content of his speech at the Ebony Place, Victoria Island Lagos.
“So, if we permit our cynicism full rein, we may be tempted to wonder what the teak purpose of his visit is.
“We may wonder if indeed this is about supporting the nation’s food security program, could he have done it from London, at the diplomatic level? After all, there is probably a direct line to the Nigerian President straight from his office. In this regard, we must especially remember how at arms length, British and American officials have treated Nigeria until now – high level visits to various parts of Africa with most of them flying over Nigeria, largest economy, strategically located and most populous nation on the continent, right at the base of two powerful international military bases.
“We may be tempted to ask, what his real purpose is and how much of a smokescreen this food security visit to Lagos is.
This becomes a pertinent question considering that yes, Lagos may be the largest economy in Nigeria, but the food security agenda is a creation of Abuja and Lagos produces next to nothing in terms of food, not even fish!
Is he going to Abuja? Who will he see?
I hope President Ahmed Bola Tinubu maximizes his chance to squeeze Britain for all we can get.
Britain is learning from France. They do not want to lose their foothold in the West African subregion, the way France has pushed her former colonies to oust them.
I think these are momentous days and the African diplomatic millieu is changing…
…did some Afrivan leaders not just return from Russia, lavishly received by Putin himself?
I think we should keep a watch on these developments and I hope African finally gets her due at the negotiating table.”
In concluding this piece, this column calls on President Tinubu to allow no one in his government to mislead him. Only yesterday, the authorities in Nigeria ordered for electricity to be cut off Niger in the name of enforcing sanctions against that country’s military. But those that the action would affect most are the poor citizens of Niger Republic, whose continued support for our fight against terrorism remains very crucial.
President Tinubu should also be informed that Niger Republic deferred the construction of hydro-electric projects across their country just to enable Nigeria have enough water to generate electricity. Nigeria, in turn, gives Niger electric power at a fee.
Now, with this ill-advised measure being pursued thoughtlessly, nothing stops the new rulers of Niger Republic from taking their destiny into their hands. Russia or China can dam River Niger and generate electricity for them in a matter of few weeks. And. Nigeria will be high and dry and left in darkness.
In reality, therefore, Nigeria is at the receiving end of this blunder.