Toba Owojaiye reporting
In response to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s announcement of a military intervention in Niger to enforce compliance with its junta, Farooq Kperogi, a top writer and seasoned journalist, voiced strong opposition, outlining several key concerns in his critique. Kperogi expressed his disdain for military regimes, equating them to inherited monarchies for their imposition of predetermined limits on leadership aspirations.
He decried the notion of intervening in Niger’s internal affairs and questions Tinubu’s motivations, implying that such actions could carry far-reaching consequences not only for Tinubu himself but also for Nigeria as a whole.
Kperogi underscored the importance of prioritizing Nigeria’s pressing internal challenges. He criticized Tinubu’s failure to address these issues and pointed out the inherent contradiction in allocating substantial resources for a military intervention abroad while claiming financial constraints for essential domestic matters.
Moreover, Kperogi raised suspicion about Tinubu’s potential alignment with Western interests, as his economic policies appear to mirror those advocated by international institutions. This prompted Kperogi to speculate that Tinubu might be catering to Western powers, thereby compromising Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The author delved into the intricate landscape of Niger’s politics, shedding light on the ethnic tensions that underlie the situation. He highlighted the discontent among the Hausa and Zarma ethnic groups, who together form a significant majority of the population, regarding the imposition of an Arab minority president, Mohamed Bazoum.
Kperogi underscored the potential volatility of this ethnic divide and warned of the risk of exacerbating tensions within Nigeria itself. He predicted that if a military intervention were to escalate, it could lead to an influx of refugees into northern Nigeria, triggering ethnic conflict between the Yoruba and Hausa communities. In this scenario, Kperogi believes that Tinubu’s presidency could be seriously jeopardized.
Ultimately, Kperogi vehemently opposed Tinubu’s proposed military intervention in Niger. He deemed it unwarranted and potentially driven by external interests, particularly those of Western powers. Kperogi underscored the potential adverse consequences for Nigeria’s stability and urges Tinubu to reconsider his course of action.
The critique is concerned regarding internal priorities, the implications of foreign interference, and the intricate ethnic dynamics at play, painting a comprehensive picture of the risks associated with the contemplated military intervention.