The Coalition of United Political Parties, (CUPP), yesterday warned the Federal Government against the planned military intervention in Niger Republic to re-instate the ousted civilian President, Mohammed Bazoum, saying, the sick cannot treat the sick.
The co-National Spokesperson of CUPP, Mark Adebayo, expressed these reservations in a statement in Abuja.
While describing the planned intervention as costly, unnecessary and absolutely thoughtless, the CUPP said it is neither a war that Nigeria can afford nor win, especially in the face of the overwhelming popularity of the coup among the generality of Nigeriens.
The organisation said its opposition became necessary because the Nigerian military have been overstretched over the years battling terrorism and insurgency that are still very active and draining the countrys resources to the tune of billions of Naira weekly.
The Spokesperson said, Nigeria, in its current socioeconomic state cannot afford such a costly intervention. The Nigerian military has been overstretched over the years battling terrorism and all manners of insurgency that are still very active and draining the countrys resources to the tune of billions of Naira weekly.
It is not only unnecessary but absolutely thoughtless for Nigeria to contemplate intervening militarily in the internal affairs of another country when the security situation in our own country remains a serious challenge to our military and other security agencies with an economy that is currently sick.
“It is neither a war that Nigeria can afford nor win, especially in the face of the overwhelming popularity of the coup among the generality of Nigeriens. Any military intervention without the support of the people of Niger is dead on arrival and it is glaring that the coup that toppled President Mohammed Bazoum was a widely popular one.
“Therefore, Nigeria cannot afford to waste its dwindling resources and the precious lives of our soldiers fighting an unnecessary war that it can ill-afford. The sick cannot treat the sick. Nigeria should rather concentrate on healing itself instead of looking for trouble in another country.
Nigeria and other West African countries desirous of reinstating democracy in Niger Republic should rather deploy their diplomatic assets with possible collaboration of the international community to amicably resolve the situation in Niger Republic without military action and without a single drop of blood.
