The Archbishop of Enugu Province, Anglican Communion, Emmanuel Chukwuma, has warned Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to stop any planned military action in the Republic of Niger.
Chukwuma said this during a conversation with reporters on Sunday in Enugu.
The President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, was deposed on July 26 in a coup led by General Abdourahamane Tichiani.
ECOWAS, led by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, asked Tichiani to hand over power to President Bazoun, but he refused.
Tichiani subsequently refused to meet with the ECOWAS delegation headed by Nigeria’s former military leader, Abdulsalami Abubakar, as the regional body imposed sanctions on Niger following the coup.
The coup leader also refused to meet with the acting US Assistant Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland.
Frustrated, ECOWAS, on August 10, ordered the deployment of soldiers to remove the recalcitrant junta.
The cleric reacts
But speaking to reporters, Chukwuma, the Anglican bishop, said such military action in Niger would be counterproductive for Nigeria and other West African countries because ECOWAS did not consult with the Nigerien people before threatening to sack the junta.
“It is also unfortunate that the current government is not consulting enough; therefore, they have led ECOWAS to fail. Right now, it is an absolute shame for our president Tinubu that he wants to go to war with Niger,” he said.
The bishop claimed that the coup happened due to corruption and difficulties in the Republic of Niger and that Nigerians rejoiced when it happened.
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“Now, instead of fighting corruption and condemning the evil act of the President of Niger, they (ECOWAS) are fighting the coup. That’s wrong. I think this has shown that the ECOWAS leaders themselves are corrupt and see nothing wrong with corruption,” said Mr. Chukwuma.
He said “worse things” were happening in many ECOWAS countries, including Nigeria, but the Nigerian military did not intervene due to corruption within its fold.
“Nigerians are going through a difficult time today. They are suffering, but they have enough patience. I think the time has come for us to say enough is enough,” she said.
“I am very happy that many people condemn going to war in Niger. Nigeria right now needs an intervention to bring relief to this country because the people are suffering.
“If the government can’t do that, God will come down one day and intervene on our behalf and there will be confusion,” Chukwuma said.
“There is a need for a revolution in Nigeria. A revolution is waiting for Nigeria to make things better because things are getting worse.
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