The Jigawa state governorship candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Mustapha Sule Lamido said that military action against Niger junta will exposes Jigawa, Yobe, Borno, Katsina, Sokoto and Kebbi in to security and social crises.
This was contained in a press statement issued signed and made available to Online Tribune in Dutse, JIgawa state by the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Mustapha Sule Lamido, said the earlier decision of using force against the junta may endanger the security and social condition of six states in the northern part of the country that has common boarder with Niger republic.
sharing direct borders with Niger, president Bola Ahmed Tinibu to be careful in action against Niger republic that affect the personal and bilateral relationship between the people and government of the two countries.
Alhaji Mustapha Sule Lamido explained that “As Nigerians, an indigenes of JIgawa state which direct boarder, we have every reason to be concerned about recent developments in neighbouring Niger Republic”.
According to the statement expressed fear that any military action in Niger may have an influence on domestic and international terrorism in Jigawa, Yobe, Borno, Katsina, Sokoto and Kebbi sharing direct borders with Niger and possibly Nigeria as a hall.
“We have reasons to be more concerned due to our proximity to the country in question. Any military action in Niger will have an influence on domestic and international terrorism in Nigeria”.
In the statement the PDP stalwart maintained that “First, it is paramount that we strongly condemn any military takeover of power, which represents the dark post-colonial anti-democratic pasts of many African countries. The military dictators in Niger should be advised to put the best interest of their country and the West African sub-region at heart by returning power to the democratically elected and legitimately recognized government they toppled”.
Alhaji Lamido emphasis that “Fundamentally, we must appreciate the need for Nigeria to lead other ECOWAS countries in providing the right leadership to resolve the situation in Niger”.
“However, Nigeria must be advised to trade with caution, particularly in a period that we are battling with our own internal security and socio-economic challenges. Any military action taken in Niger may have repercussions for Nigeria, especially in states where we share borders”.
The statement added that “this will come at a great cost as we stand to destroy our cordial relationship that has stood the test of time. Since independence in 1960, we have pursued diplomatic relations based upon non-interference in the internal affairs of the other. During the Nigerian Civil War, President of Niger Hamani Diori was an active mediator in our conflict”.
He advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritize the Nigeria/Niger bilateral relations with Niger over the multi-lateral relations with ECOWAS, especially under this current situation which diplomatic solutions are yet to be exhausted.
Alhaji Mustapha Sule Lamido disclosed further that With states like Jigawa, Yobe, Borno, Katsina, Sokoto and Kebbi sharing direct borders with Niger, it is advisable that the president should call a meeting of the National Council of States as well as inter-agency security heads to critically discuss the situation.
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