NLC: War in Niger May Signal End of ECOWAS

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warned the leaders of the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) and Nigeria not to go ahead with their decision to deploy soldiers in Niger to fight for the restoration of the ousted civilian government, saying it may signal the end of the body.

NLC said it had reason to believe that ECOWAS was a victim of its double standards or discriminatory policies, which had seen the body condoning coup and even celebrating coups.

Apart from the possibility of such aggressive action destabilising the entire region, including northern Nigeria, NLC said there would be loss of many lives in and out of the battle field.

It warned that such a move could result in an unintended outcome “of turning Niger into a fertile territory for proxy wars.”

In a statement signed by NLC president, Joe Ajaero, the labour movement said, “This is a euphemism for war, immediate war on Niger Republic, our consistently most peaceful neighbour. It will amount to stating the obvious that we at the Nigeria Labour Congress are averse to military rule.

“Indeed, the history of the struggle for democratic rule in Nigeria cannot be complete without mentioning the illustrious contribution of the labour movement.

“Despite our unimpeachable credentials in the popular struggle against military rule, we would strongly counsel against the use of military force to remove the military junta in Niger Republic, as the disadvantages clearly outweigh the benefits, from putting in danger the lives of the deposed President Bazoum and his family to the destabilisation of the entire region, including northern Nigeria, and loss of many lives in and out of the battlefield.

“Equally of significance is the unintended possibility of turning Niger into a fertile territory for proxy wars.”

NLC added that ECOWAS also risked a spike in terrorism and insurgency across the region.

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Kingsley Nwezeh, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Francis Sardauna in Katsina

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