Senate to President Tinubu: War is not an option in Niger Republic

Before sending the Nigerian Armed Forces into battle, Senator Abdul Ningi, the lawmaker for Bauchi Central Senatorial District, has argued that a joint session of the National Assembly is necessary.

He mentioned that the Senate had instructed President Bola Tinubu to forgo war in order to advance efforts to reestablish democracy in the Niger Republic.

This was said by the lawmaker in an interview with Channels TV.

“He has the right to request (permission), but the Constitution has established some restrictions, Ningi emphasized. “There must be a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the Senate before he can ask the Nigerian Armed Forces to enter combat“.

“We received a letter from him outlining the current state of affairs in ECOWAS. After reading it, we told him plainly that war is off the table and that he should focus on other matters”.

Coups are unacceptable, according to Senator Ningi, who praised ECOWAS for trying to address the political unrest in the Niger Republic. “There is nothing under or above the table that should attract a coup,” he said.

Ningi noted that the only physical differences between Nigeria and Niger—colonial-era borders—serve to highlight their close relationship.

The naira’s status as legal tender in Niger was mentioned to highlight the proximity.

Although Ningi acknowledged the need to address the coup, she pushed for alternatives to military action.