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Military ruler in Niger Republic has accused Nigeria of jeopardizing the relationship between both nations by not considering the help it rendered during the Biafra civil war.
Though, this is coming after Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso last week announced their immediate exit from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has its headquarters in Nigeria and currently chaired by President Bola Tinubu.
The ruling West African nations faulted the regional bloc for the sanctions imposed on them as part of efforts to reverse the coups in their countries.
They also cited ECOWAS’ drift from the spirit of pan-Africanism, and it’s failure to stem the insecurity and terrorism in their nations, as reasons for their exit.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Nigeria condemned the withdrawal of the three nations from ECOWAS.
But in a statement by Bintou Ouattara, head of division of regional economic communities at the ministry of foreign affairs, Niger Republic, said the help it rendered during the Biafran civil war was critical in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
It said, “By deciding irresponsibly to illegally and unjustly sanction Niger and to undertake military intervention against our country, ECOWAS has become a threat to all the people of the Sahel and its member states,” the statement reads.
“With particular regards to Nigeria’s responsibility, the government of Niger notes with deep regret that history will record that the unfair, illegal, unjust and inhumane sanctions against Niger were taken under the leadership of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, current president of the ECOWAS conference of heads of state and government.
“Then, to the irresponsible ECOWAS sanctions, Nigeria despite our neighbourly and fraternity ties, added its own punitive sanctions, namely; cutting off the supply of electrical energy indiscriminately, blocking the supply to Niger in pharmaceutical and food products, etc.
“In any case, Niger has no moral lessons, much less democracy, governance or patriotism, to receive from the current Nigerian authorities.
“Also, Niger urges them to exercise restraint and pull themselves together so as not to endanger our age-old bonds of fraternity which fully deserves to be preserved in the best interest of our people”.
