Katsina – Daura Unity and Progress Forum Holds an International Press Conference on the 12th of August, 2023
Katsina-Daura Unity and Progress Forum Holds an International Press Conference on the 12th of August, 2023 on the Political Situation in Niger Republic and the ECOWAS Resolution.
The Acting President, Tukur Mallami and Eng.Musa D Abdullahi MFR,the Secretary-General,Labiru M Kafir,mni, addressed members of the press on behalf of the association during the press conference.
Find the text of the Press Conference at below.
INTERNATIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF NIGER AND ECOWAS RESOLUTIONS:
THE STAND OF KATSINA-DAURA UNITY AND PROGRESS FORUM 12TH AUGUST, 2023.
Assalamu Alaikum With complete gratitude to Allah (SWT) we wish to welcome you to the Secretariat of the Katsina-Daura Unity and Progress Forum, where we are gathered to express the Forum’s stand on the political situation in the Republic of Niger,as per the recent resolution of ECOWAS and the implication on the peace and stability of Nigeria and Niger,in particular, and the West African sub region in general.
The Katsina-Daura Unity and Progress Forum is a registered, non-partisan grassroots organization whose main aim is to enhance the development, peace and progress of Katsina State and our nation.
Its membership is drawn from all strata of Katsina State population.
It has chapters in all the 34 Local Government Areas of the State and people living in the diaspora.
We have carefully reviewed the efforts and responses of the Heads of State of ECOWAS to resolve the on-going tension and are of the opinion that the steps taken by ECOWAS, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,will have negative effect which will lead to socio-economic and political disruption in the West African sub-region, and may result in turning the region into a theater of proxy war between the super powers.
This will provide an easy ground and sanctuary for our local and foreign adversaries to facilitate physical and psychological assault on our country and threaten our strategic national interests.
We firmly believe that the situation in Niger Republic should not be an excuse for NATO, Russia and other superpowers to demonstrate their military prowess.
After extensive consultations with a cross section of the people of Katsina State,the Forum has resolved to declare its opposition and rejection of the unfortunate ECOWAS resolution for military intervention against the military junta in the Republic of Niger.
We wish to unequivocally reject any intention, resolution or declaration by anybody (country or organization),under whichever guise, to militarily invade the Republic of Niger in order to restore democracy, because it is poorly thought of, ill-conceived and deliberately designed to cause more harm than good,not only to the Nigeriens but also on the people living in the Northern States of Nigeria who inhabit the long stretch of the international border spanning Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno States.
The ECOWAS resolution on this situation is more of an act of impulse than a carefully calculated decision,as the protocol may have rightly provided for a military solution only when recourse to diplomacy and consultations fail.
This procedure of using non-military options was applied in the case of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Gambia.
In the present case however, the cart is being put before the horse, which we consider as unfair and insulting to the national pride of Nigeriens.
It is therefore rational for the Nigerien military rulers to reject any diplomatic overtures which would follow after the abuse of their national independence.
Another disturbing phenomena is that the ECOWAS members are not unanimous in endorsing the military option.
The open declaration of support from Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, as well as Algeria (outside ECOWAS), is an indication that ECOWAS has not done its homework properly, but rather a hasty decision to unleash the destruction of the country and the neighbouring Northern Nigerian states, and the involvement of other countries for and against, will eventually turn into a prolonged, widespread war for the whole Sahel region.
Already our region is awash with uncontrolled gun trade, banditry and insurrection, thus giving the arms manufacturing nations of NATO, USA and Russia the fertile grounds to freely test the capacities of their weapons.
The Forum wonders,if ever the Federal Government of Nigeria has considered the long-standing relationship between the two nations before spearheading this unfortunate misadventure.
The intricate interdependence between the people living in the two countries, in terms of cultural, political, economic, religious spheres,is a common knowledge that ought to guide our policy makers to tread with extreme caution so as not to trigger the dislocation and destruction of harmonious co-existence between Nigeria and Niger.
Furthermore,the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries as espoused in all international treaties, is grossly abused by this declaration.
The decision to disconnect Niger Republic with electricity from Nigeria may also likely have negative consequences.
The hastily adopted ECOWAS resolutions resulting into the Republic of Niger’s border and airspace closure all indicate the latest aggressive tendencies which intimidate and threaten the sovereignty and national pride of the Republic of Niger and its people.
Notwithstanding that the ECOWAS has reviewed its ultimatum on military action,it is noteworthy that the amassment of troops and military hardware on stand-by is still an intimidation and a threat to the Republic of Niger, which is likely to hinder any diplomatic progress for peace understanding and reconciliation of the stand-off situation.
ECOWAS or Nigeria for that matter should not violate the sovereignty of the Nigerien people.
In view of the foregoing, the Forum wishes to:
1.reiterate its stand that the best anti-dote against coups is good governance,founded on the basis of free fair and credible election.
2.call on President Tinubu and the Federal Government to desist from supporting any aggression towards the Republic of Niger and its people.
Doing so is in effect undertaking a proxy war for NATO and its allies,and will negatively and tragically affect people living in the Northern States of Nigeria.
It also amounts to self-inflicted injury by the Federal Government of Nigeria on its people especially those living in the Northern State who will definitely be affected by the war.
3.impress on the President to turn attention inward and address the lingering troubles of insecurity, kidnapping, poverty and corruption which have made life in Nigeria quite unbearable.
Rather, concerted efforts should be further intensified in addressing the key security challenges pervading all over the country.
He should remember that he is first and foremost the President of Nigeria before becoming the leader of ECOWAS.
4.commend the Governors of states sharing common border with the Republic of Niger, especially the Katsina State Governor Dikko Umar Radda,and the Northern Senators caucus.We wish to further call on all State Governors, members of the National and State Assemblies, traditional, and religious leaders and the general public to stand up stoutly against this declaration of war.
We have already reached out to our State Government,National and State Assembly legislators, the Emir’s of Katsina and Daura.
The Forum calls on ECOWAS to review its decisions thoroughly, stop taking half-hearted measures for peace and accept that the initial resolutions are not good enough for peaceful rapprochement.
5.invite our fellow citizens in other political zones of the Federation to support our stand against the proposed ECOWAS military action on the military administration in Niger Republic.
We should note that our national interests will be most affected when we violate existing bilateral agreement with the Republic of Niger while our security will also be threatened.
May Allah SWT bless guide and protect the peace progress and development of Katsina State and Nigeria.
Thank you.
Tukur Malami Ag. President
Labiru M Kafur, mni Secretary General
