A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Bode George has urged President Bola Tinubu to shelve his consideration of military action against the coupists in Niger Republic.
This is coming after Tinubu wrote the National Assembly, seeking approval for military move.
George said in a statement made available to Qed.ng on Friday that “war is not a tea party” and that Tinubu should instead deal with domestic problems such as dwindling purchasing power and epileptic power supply.
Writing as “a Nigerian, a retired General in the Nigerian military, a patriot and a war tactician,” George said, “First of all, you have done the right thing by sending a delegation consisting of former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saad Abubakar, a retired Brigadier-General, to meet the Military High Command in Niger.
“It is okay to send a delegation. Diplomacy is always a better option to war. To jaw jaw is better than war war.
“But, I believe, it would have been better if the full Nigerian colouration was reflected in that delegation.
“Some diplomats (serving or retired) should have been included in the delegation. Diplomats are trained for a situation like this. What is happening in Niger right now is not only for the military.
“Number two, when you have a crisis within, you solve that first before going international with a ‘Big Brother’ posture.
“In your last national broadcast, you even admitted that Nigerians are going through a lot and everything is being done to alleviate their suffering.
“In Nigeria today, there is no food, no financial power to buy fuel, no light, no money. Nigerians are psychologically stranded and people are really going through a lot. So, I don’t know what our going to Niger Republic with full military power will achieve.
READ ALSO:
Tinubu is not from Lagos — Bode George
I’ll move away from Nigeria if Tinubu becomes president — Bode George
“If you remember, Nigeria, almost singularly, financed ECOMOG military operations and that was when our economy was better. Which economy are we going to use now to finance a full military operation in Niger Republic, when Mali and Burkina Faso have threatened to take sides with Niger Republic?
“Will this not lead to the collapse of ECOWAS? Do we really know the type of partisan game Western Powers, on one hand, Russia and China, on another hand, and some other African countries, are playing behind the scene? Can we really trust any one of them? Should Nigeria’s interest not play a major role before taking any decision of this gargantuan dimension which can lead to loss of lives and destruction of properties?”
George noted that seven northern states – Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno – that share borders with five regions in Niger Republic would be direct targets of bullets and missiles in the case of war.
“Anybody who has been in the military will tell you war is not an easy thing. We must be careful.
“Thank God you have started the diplomatic move. Let the envoys continue the diplomatic discussion in Niger. War is not a tea party,” the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland added.
