Niger junta ready to avoid war

Leader of the July 26, 2023, Niger Republic coup, Abdourahmane Tchiani, on Sunday, said the coup that ousted former President Mohammed Bazoum was “well intended”, adding that “they struck to starve off an imminent threat that would have affected not only the Niger Republic but also Nigeria”.

Tchiani, a General in the Niger Military and former Commander of the country’s elite Guards Brigade stated this at an interactive session with some Islamic Scholars leading Nigeria’s Intervention Team to that country on Sunday.

Although he did not explain the nature of the threats that the coup plotters saved their country from, the coup has, however, plunged the country into several sanctions from the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS), who are demanding a return to democratic government and restoration of the ousted regime of President Mohammed Bazoum.

The Nigerian team comprising prominent Islamic scholars in the country had met with the coup leaders in Niamey, Niger Republic, where both parties agreed to intensify the dialogue option in resolving the country’s political crisis.

Leader of the team of Ulammas, Bala Lau, who is the National Chairman of Jamatul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, said in a statement made available to BusinessDay in Abuja, that the clerics were in Niger on behalf of President Bola Tinubu who accepted their request to intervene, adding that “the military leaders in Niger gave the team warm reception.

Read alsoECOWAS mounts another bid to engage Niger coup leaders

Tchiani, who agreed to find peaceful means to resolve the political impasse in his country, added that their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter.

He, however, said it was painful to the coup leaders that the ECOWAS leaders did not hear their side of the matter before requesting them to quit office.

He also apologised for not, according to the team sent by President Tinubu, led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), the required attention because they were angry about the ECOWAS ultimatum.

While tracing the historical ties between the two nations, he said the Niger Republic and Nigeria were neighbours and brothers and sisters who should resolve issues amicably.

The Islamic Ulammas, led by Bala Lau, was said to have met with Abdourahmane Tchiani for several hours in Niger’s capital, Niamey, during which they deliberated on all the issues, including the demand by ECOWAS leaders that former President Bazoum be reinstated.

Lau said the team had earlier told President Tinubu, the Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, that their position is that the political impasse in Niger is resolved through dialogue.

He, therefore, told General Tchiani that the visit to Niger was to engage in constructive dialogue to encourage him and other military leaders behind the coup to toe the path of peace instead of war to resolve the crisis.

Speaking with journalists in Niamey after the meeting, another member of the intervention team and Chief Missioner of Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria, Ahmad Abdulrahman, said contrary to reports in some sections of the media, General Tchiani well received the team, and both parties had fruitful discussions.

“We will now go back home and report to President Tinubu what we have discussed and press it on him that war is not an option in resolving the matter.

“We believe that war is an ill wind that will not blow any good and that peaceful resolution should prevail.”

The team comprised scholars from various Islamic sects in the country.

Among them were Kabiru Gombe-Secretary, Jamatul izalatul bida waikamatul sunnah, Yakubu Musa Hassan Katsina-Director Daawah, JIBWIS, Ibrahim Dahiru Bauchi- Rep, Ibrahim Bauchi and Khalid Aliya- Secretary General, Jammatul Nasril Islam.

Other Sheiks on the team included; Karibullah Nasiru Kabara- Leader of Khadriya Group Nigeria; Ahmad Abdurahman, Salisu Sheri- Deputy Secretary-General Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs; Nasiru Abdul Muhayuid- Director Admin, JIBWIS Jos, Mansur Sokoto, and Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited ( NNPCL)