El-Zakzaky in a statement he issued also told Tinubu that Nigeria and Niger Republic are one going by history
Kehinde Okeowo
The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky has identified the United States and France as those behind the move for military intervention in the Niger Republic.
He made this known via a statement he signed, where he cautioned President Bola Tinubu against attacking Niger Republic.
According to El-Zakzaky, Tinubu needs to understand that Nigeria and Niger Republic are one going by history and noted that the plan to attack them was shocking to him.
He further advised the president to reconsider the planned military intervention in Niger, while also tracing the historical bond between the two West African countries.
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He went on to allege that France and the United States are only trying to use Nigeria to wreak havoc in the Niger Republic.
El-Zakzaky said: “All of a sudden, France and the US want to use Nigeria to attack Niger.
“This is very shocking given the fact that Nigeria and Niger are one people.
“It was the territories of such empires that were carved out to create Niger and Nigeria.”
Prior to this, the Nigerian president in his capacity as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had handed down a seven-day ultimatum to the military junta in Niger Republic to return power to the democratically elected president, Mohammed Bazoum.
He also announced a number of sanctions which included closing borders linking Niger, indefinite stoppage of flight activities and distribution of power to the country.
Tinubu also threatened military action and wrote the leadership of the National Assembly to approve the deployment of military personnel to the troubled Niger.
On Tuesday, however, Niger’s junta turned down the latest diplomatic mission from African countries.
