We have our own troubles, don't intervene militarily in Niger, Moghalu warns Tinubu

Kingsley Moghalu, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to exercise extreme caution in its approach to intervening in Niger as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) seeks to restore democracy to the military junta-run nation.

Recall that the government of President Bola Tinubu had given the Junta-led government of Niger a seven-day deadline to restore the country’s ousted president to power.

However, the military-led West African governments appear to have formed an alliance with the Nigerien junta government, with Russia strongly suggesting support.

Advising the Tinubu-led government to tread carefully, Moghalu revealed that Nigeria was not well positioned at the moment to drive military intervention.

“As a Nigerian citizen, I am concerned about the situation in Niger and its implications for us. I would advise @NigeriaGov to be very cautious. Yes, Nigeria’s natural leadership role in West Africa means we can’t take a back seat. But we are not well positioned now, internally, to drive a military intervention to restore democracy in Niger. That’s because we have great challenges at home right now. Our own democracy and economy are challenged. Foreign policy and power projection are best anchored on domestic strength and stability,” Moghalu said.

“A military intervention in Niger would be seen and resisted by the new military junta there as an invasion and they may be backed by Russia/China, Mali & Burkina Faso. It could get very messy & protracted, despite how small & militarily weak Niger appears at first sight compared to Nigeria and a combined ECOWAS military force. It might turn out like Russia’s invasion of “small” Ukraine or even (in the Nigerian internal context) Gowon’s “police action” in response to the Eastern Region’s declaration of secession as the Republic of Biafra in 1967. The Federal,” he added.