By Eddie Momoh
While many Nigerians appear to be strongly opposed to sending troops into Niger, some politicians in President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s government would appear to back ECOWAS’ seven-day ultimatum for military intervention. Nigeria is the region’s leading super power with the largest army and security. But whether or not it gets the support of the other 16- member states of ECOWAS is hugely doubtful. Some states notably, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Liberia, the Gambia and even Ghana have already voiced opposition for a military intervention. The Nigeria military with its own huge security challenges and the long running battle with Boko Haram are unlikely to go alone into Niger without practical military support from other West African states. Many of these states are showing no appetite whatsoever for a military intervention acknowledging the huge economic and political challenges faced at home. Any military intervention will not only set the stage for a bitter and prolonged super power rivalry as already witnessed in the Ukraine war but it will lead to a massive instability and refugee crisis in the entire west Africa sub-region .
So why would ECOWAS want to send troops into Niger and not Guinea, Mali or Burkina Faso, also with a military regime. The answer is because several of its member states and their hapless leaders are under increased western pressure (to do something), particularly France, kicked out of Niger and other francophone countries after more than 30 years raping their natural resources and huge uranium deposits in the name of security in the Sahel.
