The Senate has rejected the request by President Bola Tinubu to approve military action against the Niger Republic.
West African regional bloc, ECOWAS under the Chairmanship of President Tinubu of Nigeria had last Sunday, given a seven-day ultimatum to the military junta of Niger, who seized power on July 26 to return the country to constitutional order or face possible military intervention.
This is in addition to sanctions slammed on the restive West African nation by ECOWAS.
The coup has since been condemned by Nigeria, the US, France, the United Nations (UN), and other countries.
Tinubu, being ECOWAS chairman, and in compliance with the ECOWAS resolution, wrote to the senate, seeking the approval of the red chambers to enable Nigeria to intervene and restore democracy in Niger.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who read the letter during Friday’s plenary, said Nigeria, in compliance with the ECOWAS resolution will undertake “military buildup and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant.
“Closure and monitoring of all land borders with the Niger Republic and reactivation of the border drilling exercise.
“Cutting off Electricity supply to the Niger Republic, mobilising international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communique.
“Preventing the operation of commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic; Blockade of goods in transit to Niger especially from Lagos and eastern seaports,” the president added.
According to reports, the Senate, however, emerged from a long executive session without granting the president’s request.
Akpabio instead denied the reported content of the letter from Tinubu which he read during plenary on Friday saying, “the president did not request the Nigerian Army to be deployed to the Niger Republic to fight” the coupists.”
The Senate president rather said Tinubu is seeking permission from the Senate to proceed with the resolution of the ECOWAS.
The resolution of the ECOWAS contains “military intervention” if all other means fail.”
The Senate did not offer any further details to the announcement when it returned from the closed-door session.
This was after it gave a hint on Friday that it would be categorical in its decision in compliance with the ECOWAS resolution even as it condemned “military coup in Niger Republic” on Saturday.
Recall that Kanyi Daily earlier reported that former Kaduna Senator, Shehu Sani called on the senate not to approve any military action against Niger Republic.
Sani said Nigeria should not be plunged into war and “eventually stuck in a war in the Sahel“, and urged Tinubu not to be misled by foreign powers.
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