El-Rufai described any military intervention within ECOWAS as war between brothers.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Ex-governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, has warned the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against using the military to restore democracy in Niger Republic.
In a Tuesday post on X, El-Rufai described any military intervention within the sub-region as war between brothers.
ECOWAS had disclosed plans to use force if the coup leaders in Niger Republic do not relinquish power to ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
Last Thursday, the bloc’s defence chiefs met in Accra, Ghana’s capital city, and said they had begun the activation of a standby force in Niger.
READ ALSO:
ECOWAS will work with ECCAS to restore democracy in Niger Republic — Tinubu
Although the defence chiefs backed calls for dialogue as a mediation tactic, the group said all elements that would go into any military intervention had been worked out and were being refined.
Reacting to ECOWAS’ plans, El-Rufai wrote, “As ECOWAS beats the drums of war, I recall the 1970s rock classic by Dire Straits – ‘Brothers in Arms’, because a war within our subregion is a war between brothers. Indeed, the people of niger republic are one and the same with those living in Northern Nigeria. Let us bend therefore over backwards to avioid this civil war between brothers.”
El-Rufai also posted lyrics of the song for all to reflect on the devastating effects of war.
“Music is something to enjoy, but being so overwhelmed with public affairs in the last 10 years, I have lost valuable pleasurable moments. Time to catch up on lost time,” he added.
