Ndume urges President Tinubu to lift ECOWAS sanction on Niger Republic
By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume has condemned in strong term the sanction announced on the Republic of Niger.
Senator Ndume also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a matter of urgency to reconsider the sanctions on humanitarian ground and livelihood of the poor citizens of Niger Republic and neighboring countries of Nigeria, Chad and Cameron that share borders with Niger Republic.
He appealed to President Tinubu to lift the sanction and resort to dialogues with the junta’s through the Nigerian former Heads of State and elder statesman.
He also described the sanction as unnecessary. and against the privileges and freedom of the large majority of the people of Niger Republic and its neighboring countries.
Senator who stated this in an interview with journalists at his residence in Maiduguri lamented that the sanction does impact on the juntas but greatly and regrettably affects the poor masses and ordinary people, especially, the over 100,000 Nigerian refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (UDPs) have taking refuge in Niger Republic and yet to be repatriated.
He further appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Chairman of ECOWAS as well Leader of a great and leading country like Nigeria to take the lead and denounce the sanction in the general interest and livelihood of the poor masses in both Niger Republic and other surroundings countries for peace to reign.
Senator Ali Ndume further said the sanction on the Niger Republic following a military coup in July 2023 that deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, is a great violation of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.
The federal lawmaker noted that he is not in support of the military coup de tat in Niger Republic but punishing innocent citizens in the name of sanctions that affects the humanitarian needs of people is unacceptable.
He recalled that $70,000 at stake as ECOWAS marathon was held in Abuja, ECOWAS suspended Niger from regional decision-making bodies and the Sanction by ECOWAS parliament gives conditions to Niger military junta to continue to stay in governance with any check.
“There are over one hundred thousand Nigerian IDPs in Niger who fled to Niger Republic for safety during the Boko Haram conflict, especially , people from Borno and Yobe who are now facing unnecessary hardships due to economic sanctions after the July 30 coup.
“I’m one of those that are against the action taken by ECOWAS leadership, I believed that the decision was rushed and it was not the right thing because it affects my people and state.
“Over one hundred thousand Nigerians, indigents of Borno state from Abadam, Guzamala, Malum Fatori, Baga Kukawa migrated to the Niger Republic during the days of Boko Haram attacks and Niger people accepted them as their brothers and sisters.
“Nigeria and Niger Republics are only separated by the borderline imposed by the colonial government, where about eight states in the Northern part of Nigeria are sharing borders with Niger Republic,namely, Kano, Katsina, Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states where we share our neighborhood, our culture, our tradition, our marriage and our language together.
“For five months now, the borders are closed, which means you cannot freely move while the ECOWAS protocols are saying there should be free movement, the sanctions is not well thought out. When by the constitution of Nigeria, even the President is not supposed to take that action without the approval of the National Assembly, hence, the decision cannot be taken unilaterally.
“Niger government has been supporting Nigeria even during the Biafran war, France supported Biafra but Niger a former colony of France supported Nigeria and in fact with military support. Whereas from the look of things, the sanctions is not affecting the juntas but innocent citizens especially women, children and vulnerable people who have no hand in the coup de tat, ” Ndume said.
According to him, cutting down the power supply, restrictions of free movement, preventing food, fuel and water supply to the Niger Republic has negative repercussions not only on Nigeriens but to Nigerian IDPs in Niger among others.
Ndume , however, suggested that the best way forward to address the situation is to negotiate with the coup juntas to release Mohammed Bazoum and hand over power to the democratic government of the country by way of returning the government back to democracy.