The ECOWAS Parliament was on Saturday divided over the actions that should be taken to address the political crisis in Niger republic.
Some members of the parliament advocated for negotiation and diplomacy, while others urged taking concrete steps to halt the spread of military rule in the area.
No fewer than 22 parliamentarians participated in the virtual extraordinary meeting to discuss the Niger crisis.
Recall that the West Africa’s regional bloc on Thursday ordered the activation of a standby force for possible use against the junta that took power in Niger in July, saying it wanted a peaceful restoration of democracy but all options including force were on the table.
During the virtual meeting, some ECOWAS parliamentarians were in support of military action against the military junta, others were against it.
The members who were against military intervention highlighted the economic woes that the people of Niger could experience if invaded.
Ali Djibo of Niger Republic said that the crisis has already resulted in the closure of more than 9,000 schools and War will only compound the economic woes the peoples of the sub-region are already going through.
He noted that, at present, over 1,000 trucks are stranded at the border with goods unable to move across the border.
“If a coup happened in Nigeria or Cote’d’Iviore tomorrow, where’s the ECOWAS going to mobilise troops to fight the Nigerian or Ivorian military? How many borders are we going to close?
“We must also bear in mind that if we’re applying the ECOWAS treaty, it should be applicable to all.”
Awaji-Inombek Dagomie Abiante (Rivers), ECOWAS must pay keen attention and treat the root causes of coups in ECOWAS countries.
Members of the ECOWAS Parliament making a case for military intervention in Niger said diplomacy had contributed in no small measure to the increase in the spate of military takeover of government in the West African sub-region.
Contributing, Adebayo Balogun, posited that ECOWAS leaders were proposing military action to remove the junta. not clamouring for a fully-fledged war.
He recalled that Niger was a signatory to ECOWAS’ revised protocol on non-military intervention.
Also, Bashir Dawodu expressed the belief that the body should open itself up to the possibility of a military option and apply pressure on the putschists while exploring dialogue.