The Katsina-Daura Unity & Progress Forum Writes To Katsina State Governor…
The Katsina-Daura Unity & Progress Forum Writes To Katsina State Governor and the Chairman of Northern Senators Forum To Register Their Opposition to a War With Niger Republic Under Any Guise !
Sen. Abdul Ningi.
The letter was addressed to the Katsina State Governor Dr. Dikko Umar Radda and the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Sen. Abdul Ningi.
The letter was signed by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Katsina-Daura Unity and Progress Forum, Engr.Musa D Abdullahi, MFR, and the Secretary-General,Labiru M Kafur,mni. The duo signed on behalf of the forum.
Read Letter at Below:
His Excellency, Mallam Dikko Umar Radda Ph.D,The Executive Governor of Katsina State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari House, Katsina. & Senator Abdul Ningi Chairman, Northern Senators’ Caucus, National Assembly, Abuja.
7th August, 2023.
PEACE, SECURITY AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION- DIPLOMACY CONSULTATIONS, NOT WAR AGAINST THE REPUBLIC OF NIGER.
After extensive consultations with a cross section of the people of Katsina State, the Katsina-Daura Unity and Progress Forum (KDUDF) resolved to write and declare our opposition and rejection of the unfortunate ECOWAS resolution for military intervention against the military junta in the Republic of Niger.
The Forum is a registered, non-partisan organization whose main aim is to enhance the development, Peace and Progress of Katsina State and our nation. Its memberships 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 the socioeconomic and political dislocation in the West African sub-region, and may result in turning the region into a theater of proxy war between the super powers, thus providing an easy ground and sanctuary for our local and foreign adversaries to facilitate physical and psychological assault on our country.
We firmly believe that the situation in Niger should not be an excuse for NATO, Russia and other superpowers to demonstrate their military prowess nor threaten-our strategic national interests.
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 out, 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 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, 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 armed 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.
ECOWAS or Nigeria for that matter should not violate the sovereignty of Nigerien people.
In view of the foregoing, the Forum wishes to:
1. Reiterate its stand that the best antidote 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. As 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.
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.
He should remember that he is first and foremost the President of Nigeria before becoming the leader of ECOWAS
4.We wish to commend the Governor’s Forum sharing common border with the Republic of Niger,the Northern Senators Forum and further call on all State Governors, members of the National and State Assemblies, Traditional, Opinion and Religious leaders, and the people to stand up stoutly against this declaration of war.
5.We 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 treaties with the Republic of Niger while our security will also be threatened.
6.May Allah SWT bless guide and protect the peace progress and development of Katsina State and Nigeria.
Engr.Musa D Abdullahi, MFR Chairman, Board of Trustees
Labiru M Kafur,mni Secretary General
