From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for “choosing to bury the hatchet” by authorizing a high-powered delegation of the Nigerian military top brass headed by General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff to visit the Republic of Niger.
This was contained in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba made available to the media in Kaduna on Sunday.
The statement reads: “Against the background of the soured relationship between Nigeria and the Republic of Niger over the past year or so, the visit was a very welcome development as a sure sign that it represents a needed thawing, and a refreshing new vista in the history-long very warm and close diplomatic and social relationship between the two contagious West African neighbors.”
It would be recalled that in the wake of a military putsch in Niger in July 2023, the Authority of Heads of States of the member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), had suspended the member state (Niger) and ordered a comprehensive blockage against it, as well as threatened a military action to restore the overthrown civilian government of Mohammed Bazoum and “restoring democracy” to the country.
The statement further reads: “The General’s words to the press in the wake of the visit were an icing on the cake, and were delivered well-crafted, bold, brave, soothing and patriotic, signaling strength and not weakness in fraternal African interests and solidarity, unmistakably as appropriate and unambiguous as can be.”
According to the National Publicity Secretary, “Such moves in Nigeria’s international relations are certainly reminiscent of the late General Murtala’s 1975 “Africa Has Come of Age” speech to the Organisation of Africa Unity (OAU), now African Union (AU), in support of the liberation of Angola from the yoke of European colonialism.
“ACF cannot be prouder of General Musa as a worthy ambassador of Arewa and Nigeria! Taken together with the earlier reopening of the Nigeria-Niger border, and the lifting of sanctions, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who must have authorized the General Musa delegation’s trip, deserves accolades and gratitude from a nation in need of good news.
“The Forum therefore urged the Government and people of the Republic of Niger to let bygones be bygones and unite towards building a stronger bond for positive development.
“Nigeria had led the onslaught by slamming a slew of sanctions, including closing its 1,500 – kilometer – long border with Niger, imposing economic restrictions, cutting off of essential supplies including electricity power to Niger, and announcing a threat of military invasion.
“As it happened, the threats were to dissipate and fizzle out, with ECOWAS and Nigeria offering to dialogue with the Nigerian military regime. Before the detent of sorts, in response, the Republic of Niger had forged ties with other countries in West Africa, namely, Burkina Faso, Mal, I, and Guinea.
“Niger also withdrew its forces from the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MJTF) fighting terrorism in Northeast Nigeria. Diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Nigeria had soured. Right from the onset, ACF in particular and, in general, other patriotic organizations had mounted stiff opposition to all the measures against Niger arguing that the measures were not in the enlightened national security self-interests of Nigeria, as
“Nigeria-Niger communities have enjoyed close complex historic socio-cultural, economic and political ties that pre-dated European colonialism and its highly illogical, arbitrary and artificial boundaries, the many border communities across 7 Nigerian states remain separated only by narrow streets;
“Nigeria and Niger have enjoyed very close friendly diplomatic and fraternal relationships and deeply-rooted economic and commercial linkages that have remained vital lifelines for communities on both sides;
“Nigeria and Niger face the same security risks and threats and collaborations between the two countries in confronting the threats remain essential; living conditions have been very harsh for the mass of poor and vulnerable people in Niger and Nigerian humanitarian support through the supply of foods, medicines, electricity, etc., will always be needed; and
“Nigeria must not kowtow to thinly veiled urging from foreign interests bent on maintaining a neo-colonial stranglehold on the economic and political destiny of African societies. As a Nigerien folk singer had long crooned, the relationship between Nigeria and Niger can be likened to the eyes and the nose: irritation in one is responded to, respectively, by tears or mucal liquid flow in the other!
“Therefore, ACF feels vindicated in its stance. The General Christopher Musa-led military delegation to Niger is a most welcome development. The General’s words to the press in the wake of the visit were icing on the cake and were delivered well-crafted, bold, brave, soothing, and patriotic, signaling strength and not a weakness in fraternal African interests and solidarity, unmistakably as appropriate and unambiguous as can be,” the statement reads.
