The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has asked President Bola
Tinubu to exhaust all diplomatic means in resolving the crisis in Niger
Republic.
Suleiman Kawu, the spokesperson of the forum, who spoke in
Abuja on Friday, warned that deploying Nigerian troops to the Niger Republic
will hurt seven northern states —Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe
and Borno —sharing borders with the country.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had
given Niger a week from Sunday to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum or
face harder sanctions.
The northern senators urged the president to be focused on
political and diplomatic means to restore democratic government in the Niger
Republic
“The forum under the
leadership of senator Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi), has noted with concern and
condemned in entirety the unfortunate development in Niger Republic, where the
military forcefully upstaged a democratically elected government of President
Mohamed Bazoum,” NAN quoted Kawu as saying.
“The northern senators also take cognisance of the efforts
of the ECOWAS leaders under the chairmanship of our dear President Bola Tinubu,
in resolving the situation in Niger Republic.
“The emphasis, however, is that we should be focused on
political and diplomatic means to restore democratic government in the Niger
Republic.
“We also take
exception to the use of the military force until other avenues as mentioned
above are exhausted as the consequences will be casualties among the innocent
citizens who go about their daily business.
“Besides, about seven northern states who share a border
with the Niger Republic namely Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe
and Borno will be negatively affected.
“We are also aware of the situation of Mali, Burkina Faso
and Libya, which may affect the seven northern states if military force is
used.
“As democrats and representatives of the people, we hereby
urge our colleagues to observe due diligence in invoking section 5 sub-section
(4) (a) and (b) of the constitution.”
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