A group, under the auspice of Northern Consensus Movement (NCM), has called retired military heads of state in Nigeria, retired Generals Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, and T.Y Danjuma to caution President Ahmed Bola Tinubu against invading Niger Republic after exhaustion of the seven days ultimatum given to military juntas of the country.
The group said many of the past military heads of state in the once experienced war and its devastating effect on Nigeria.
Calling on President Tinubu who also doubles as the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) and to rethink and withdraw the planned agenda of a military attack on the Niger Republic, the group said many northern Nigerians are from Niger and have cousins and relatives residing in the coup riddled country.
Addressing the press at a Conference held in Kaduna, the President of NCM Dr. Awwal Abdullahi Aliyu asserted this during Nigeria and Niger Republic are like sisters, as initially there is strong bounding between both countries in terms of Religion, Culture, and Marital affairs.
The group said the decision of military attack can lead to civil war. States with land, Borders with Niger that will be on the firing line are Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Yobe, and Borno.
Dr. Aliyu added that Tinubu, in his capacity as the present Chairman of the ECOWAS, has been putting all efforts towards resolving the ongoing issue in the Niger Republic by making several different consultations and also appointing delegations towards bringing an end to the conflict in that country.
He said his group believes that diplomacy is superior to threats or the use of force, which may be difficult or impossible to implement.
He opined that preventing coups is not by sanctions and threats, but by addressing the leadership deficit and corruption, curtailing negative external pressure as well as building credible institutions to provide for the needs of the people.
