SENATOR NED NWOKO MAKES BOLD STATEMENT ON PLANNED MILITARY ACTION IN NIGER REPUBLIC

The Senator representing the Delta North Senatorial district of Delta state, Senator Ned Nwoko has vehemently kicked against the planned Military action against the new Military Government of Niger Republic by ECOWAS.

Senator Nwoko maintains that Niger Republic is a sovereign state and as such the people have the right to ascertain the best system of government that suits them. The wild jubilation by Nigeriens in the streets following the ousting of President Mohammed Bazoum is symptomatic of the general acceptance of the Niger Junta.

Senator Nwoko is of the opinion that ECOWAS could conduct a plebiscite in Niger Republic to enable the citizens choose the type of Government they want rather than force a “democratic “Government on them that does not meet their yearnings. The revered Senator again says there is still the option of engaging the Military junta to establish a clear transition plan, maintaining that the junta “enjoys substantial backing from the citizens of Niger who are aspiring for genuine self reliance”

Senator Nwoko held that the coup in Niger Republic occurred without taking lives and that it would be an insult to Africa to have French and American troops on African soil trying to restore democracy in a state where the citizens have not sought their help. Although Senator Ned Nwoko is not in anyway supporting Military interventions, which he views as unfashionable and anachronistic in today’s world, he however wants the world to look at the peculiarity of the Niger Republic case before taking hasty decisions.

THE FACTOR OF URANIUM IN NIGER REPUBLIC

Niger Republic has an estimated annual production of 2020 tons of Uranium, making the country the 4th largest Uranium producer in the world, with 5% of world mining output. The Niger Republic’s Uranium is rated as the highest grade in the world.

Uranium was discovered at Azelik in Niger in 1957 by the French Bureau de Recherches geologique et Minieres (BRGM). Three years later in 1960 the country became independent.

The French Nuclear giant, Orano and the Niger ousted Government were exploiting the potential of a Uranium site in Imouraran in the North Arlit region. Even the EU utilities purchased 2905 tu of Niger produced

Uranium in 2021.In total Niger provides about 15% of France’s Uranium needs and a fifth of EU’s Uranium stock. China, Niger’s second largest foreign investor has for two decades invested billions of dollars into the Niger Republic for the purpose of oil and Uranium. China’s total foreign Direct investment (FDI)stood at $2.68 billion as at the end of 2020.It is also instructive to note that in September 2019 Petrol. China entered into an agreement with the Niger Government to lay a 2000km Pipeline between Agadan field and the Beninese Port of Cotonou. The total funds injected into the pipeline and second phase is expected to reach $4 billion judging by reports of the China Ministry of Commerce.

The above analysis shows that these foreign investments do not take into account, the development of the Niger Republic. In spite of all these, Niger is rated as one of the poorest Nations on earth with very low life expectancy and GDP.

HYPOCRISY OF SOME FOREIGN COUNTRIES, ECOWAS

All over the Sahel there has been a deterioration of democratic ethos and ECOWAS and foreign countries never made an attempt to bring normalcy or mitigate worsening political and social conditions in the sub-Region. It is therefore hypocritical for ECOWAS and the EU to begin to cry blue murder after a coup has occurred. These coups occur because of systematic and progressive destruction of democratic values, rigged elections, on-adherence to the rule of law and flagrant violation of National constitutions.

Some countries in the Sahel region have witnessed the rise of terror groups like the Boko Haram, Ansaru, ISWAP etc which unleash terror on the populace.

Allessera Quattara of Cote d’Ivoire altered the country’s constitution and awarded himself a third term without ECOWAS blinking its eyes. Some other Country’s Presidents tinkered with their Nation’s constitutions without ECOWAS raising objections. Even the election that brought the now ousted Mohammed Bazoum into power was fraught with irregularities but ECOWAS closed its eyes to it. In the last few years there have been Military juntas in Guinea, Burkina Faso and Mali. What is now different about the new Junta in Niger?

At this critical period when Nigerians are going through hard times with galloping fuel prices, unfavorable dollar/naira exchange rates inching towards the 1000/dollar mark, high school fees, high cost of foodstuff and general insecurity, it would he the height of insensitivity for the Nigerian Government to invest heavily in a military intervention in another country. It is wiser to tackle our own domestic problems first before dissipating energy in a foreign country.

As Senator Ned Nwoko succinctly put it “I will never support invasion of another country, let alone one African Country invading another. Such action diminishes our collective dignity and stature”

Comrade Fred Akpewe

fredakpewe@gmail.com