Usman Yusuf tells Tinubu, you’re declaring war without consulting Nigerians
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Usman Yusuf, a Professor and political analyst, has reiterated the Nigerian state is responsible for the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians and President Bola Tinubu should stop mulling war against coupists in neighbouring Niger Republic.
Northern Nigerians are already grappling with several conflicts and launching a foreign war will only make things worse, he stressed.
“The primary responsibility of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to Nigeria and not to ECOWAS. He answers to us. He has not even addressed Nigerians and justified what he’s going to do, he has gone to the Senate to ask for approval. That’s no way to declare war,” Yusuf argued on Arise Television.
“We in the North, we are tired of wars. We’ve been at war for 14 years now with Boko-Haram since 2009 and nine years with bandits and kidnappers, and you’re bringing a fresh war to us.
“We in Nigeria, 78 per cent of the land mass of Nigeria, seven states and 19 states in this country are saying no to an unprovoked war with Niger.”
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Tinubu using optics to ‘prove his legitimacy’
Yusuf lamented negotiations are stunted by the diplomats “putting on the table the threat of violence” at the start of dialogue, according to reporting by Arise Television.
He suggested taking violence off the table to start profound negotiations as well as identify ways to curb the internal crisis in Niger Republic.
“You have brought the last trump card at the very beginning, that’s no way to do it, and it’s showing the inexperience of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the international scene.
“It’s not about ego or the face of the President or anybody. It’s about Nigeria and the lives we are going to commit to battle.
“This is the most important. This is not well thought through. This is misguided and will not be accepted by people, especially we here in the North that live in close proximity to this war.
Yusuf spoke of Tinubu’s attempt to prove his legitimacy through war, citing, “the elephant in the room is that the election is still contested in court.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his election is contested. It’s still in court. He has legitimacy issues, nationally and internationally.”
He urged Tinubu to avoid a proxy war with Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) because “the fight in Niger is not our fight ….
“Tinubu has not even settled down. He doesn’t even have his team, and he’s declaring war without consulting the people.”
