Mr. Bola Babarinde, a former Chairman of the Progressives Congress (APC) in South Africa, has advised President Bola Tinubu to prioritize peace over conflict when dealing with the Niger military junta. Babarinde’s statement, released to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, highlights the importance of avoiding military intervention and instead advocating for a diplomatic resolution to the situation.
Tinubu, leading the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), had directed member states to close land and air borders against Niger Republic following a military coup that removed democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum from office.
Babarinde’s counsel to Tinubu underscores the significance of pursuing peaceful solutions through negotiations and dialogue. He cautions against military intervention, which could lead to various negative consequences for Nigeria, including increased military spending amidst unresolved internal insurgencies and the potential influx of refugees.
Babarinde emphasizes that if concerns about the ousted President’s leadership are genuine, mediators should employ diplomacy to encourage peaceful settlement. He suggests that the military junta might be given the opportunity to conduct fresh elections within a year, promoting stability through democratic means.
The former APC diaspora chairman also notes the leadership and governance challenges faced by the landlocked, French-speaking Niger Republic, emphasizing that political mismanagement and poverty have hindered development and exploitation of their mineral resources.
Babarinde’s message underscores the importance of considering all avenues for conflict resolution and striving for peaceful outcomes when dealing with complex geopolitical situations.