BY EDMOND ODOK – President Bola Tinubu says the ouster of President Ali Bongo of Gabon by the Military has confirmed his worst fears about the Junta in the Niger Republic setting a bad precedent across the African continent.
The President stated this when the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) delegation, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, visited him at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday.
According to him; “My fear has been confirmed in Gabon that copycats will start doing the same thing until it is stopped. We are neighbours with Niger Republic, and what has joined Nigerians together with their great people cannot be broken.”
While insisting that any forceful removal of a democratic government remains “wholly unacceptable”, President Tinubu assured that all diplomatic options will be exhausted with the military junta in the Niger Republic before any last resort of military intervention comes into the picture.
He further said; “Nobody is interested in a war. We have seen the devastation in Ukraine and Sudan. But, if we don’t wield the big stick, we will all suffer the consequences together.”
The President, who appreciated the Islamic Leaders’ several visits to the Niger Republic as part of efforts to broker a peaceful resolution of the political crisis, said; “Your Eminence, but you will still have to go back. Your Eminence, please don’t get tired, you will still go back there. The soldiers’ action is unacceptable. The earlier they make positive adjustments, the quicker we will dial back the sanctions to alleviate the sufferings we are seeing in Niger.”
He noted that Nigeria, under General Abdulsalami Abubakar, instituted a nine-month transition programme in 1998, and it proved very successful, leading the country into a new era of democratic governance, stressing that he sees no reason why such can not be replicated in Niger if the country’s military authorities are sincere.
Addressing the suffering and hardship many Nigerians are going through due to the fuel subsidy removal, President Tinubu said all ongoing reforms will liberate and reposition the economy for the benefit of Nigerians in terms of opportunities, infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
“Nigeria is headed for a promise. Our diversity will turn into prosperity, not adversity. We will build a country that our children will be proud of”, the President said, even as he informed the delegation that the Federal Government is engaging with State Governments to provide land for the proper sustenance of animals.
He explained that the moves aimed at developing pan-national animal husbandry and agro-allied production and processing facilities for mass export, job creation, and revenue generation across the country adding; “If Nigeria is still looking for vaccines for basic health issues; if infant and maternal mortality is rampant, then we should examine ourselves. I will commit to consulting with other leaders, like the NSCIA, and we will meet the needs of our people.”
Also speaking during the visit, Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed that the President has budgeted N50 billion to support the ongoing rebuilding of lives and property in the North West and North East, as well as having a new focus on dialogue to address the nation’s security challenges.
Earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto, in pledging loyalty to the President, said a leader can only reach a position by the will of God, and not man, just as assured that the NSCIA will be available to advise and support the President to realize his dream for Nigeria.
Maintaining that “God will hold all leaders to account, in justice and fairness”, the Royal Father said the distribution of palliatives across the country should be effectively monitored and augmented, in order to reach some of the people who are actually in dire need of assistance, adding; “I honestly believe we will come out of the current challenges stronger.”
The President spoke against the backdrop of Wednesday’s coup where some soldiers struck in Gabon and annulled the recently concluded election to abruptly end the 13-year reign of President Ali Bongo, who succeeded his father in 2009.
