A social critic, Reno Omokri, has said Nigeria is not a
pushover or should be afraid of using its military-industrial complex to
advance the cause of democracy and the rule of law in Niger Republic, even as
Nigerians fervently and consistently pray against war.
According to Omokri, Nigeria has a vested interest in what
happens in Niger Republic, the way Russia has a vested interest in what happens
in Ukraine and America in Cuba.
In a tweet, the social critic boasted that Nigeria’s defence
budget is larger than every other ECOWAS state combined.
He added that Nigeria intervening to reestablish the rule of
law in Niger might be better than building a wall.
He wrote, “Nigeria’s defence budget is larger than the
defence budgets of every other ECOWAS state combined. Our military personnel
are more than the military of all fourteen other ECOWAS nations combined.
ECOWAS has a combined annual Gross Domestic Product of $760 billion. Nigeria
generates almost $500 billion of that amount or 63%.
“So, while we fervently, strenuously, and consistently pray
against war, that does not mean Nigeria should be a pushover, or be afraid of
using its military-industrial complex to advance the cause of democracy and the
rule of law. We have a vested interest in what happens in the next-door Niger
Republic, the way Russia has a vested interest in what happens in Ukraine and
America in Cuba.
“Gone are the days when President Obama would destabilise
Libya and then hand off and leave Nigeria to bear the consequences in the form
of Boko Haram, which were essentially a spillover effect of the Libyan crisis.
“Political instability in the Sahel will not be the direct
burden of France, NATO or Russia. Libya and Chad, which share a border with
Niger, are somewhat in a crisis. Algeria is dead set against opening its
borders to non-Arab, and non-Amazigh persons. Mali is facing hydra-headed
issues, including a power struggle, an Islamist insurgency, and a population
growth rate higher than her GDP growth rate.
“Therefore, if there is political and economic instability
in Niger, the influx of refugees and migrants will naturally be to Nigeria.
“And that is why it is in Nigeria’s interests to reestablish
the rule of law in Niger. Either that or we build a Trump-style wall between us
and them.
“Singapore is perhaps the least mineral-resourced nation on
Earth. Yet, she has the world’s strongest passport, according to the Henley
Index, and one of the highest per capita incomes in the world at almost
$90,000. And the reason is that Singapore has an unassailable commitment to the
rule of law.
“The above means intervening to reestablish the rule of law
in Niger might be the better option than building a wall.
“And for those who are thinking that this is a Western
imperialist action, please give Nigeria some credit. We have come of age. We
know our right from our left. And we can pursue our own agenda and asset our
own interests. And Russia is not the saviour here. Neither is the US or NATO.
Nigeria is the Black saviour!”
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