- Ifoh emphasizes Nigeria’s need for economic restoration, job creation, and ending insecurity instead of interfering in other nations
- Labour Party believes Nigeria’s role as Africa’s big brother is incongruent with internal crises and must focus on domestic concerns
The Labour Party has asserted that Nigeria should not assume a ‘big brother’ role in Africa during the ongoing political crisis in Niger Republic due to its citizens’ hunger.
Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, as Chairman of the regional bloc, had mentioned the possibility of employing force as a last resort at the ECOWAS leaders’ meeting in Abuja.
The bloc also mandated immediate enforcement of sanctions on the Niger military junta and the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force to restore constitutional order.
ECOWAS appealed for support from the African Union, partner countries, and institutions. Despite attempts at peaceful dialogue, ECOWAS expressed frustration at the military junta’s refusal.
In response, a statement by LP’s national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, on Saturday highlighted Nigeria’s current socio-economic challenges, deeming it unwise for the government to engage in war.
Nigeria can’t play African big brother role in Niger when its people are hungry—Labour Party
The statement reads, “The socio-economic situation in the country has so badly deteriorated to the extent that Nigeria is wallowing in abject poverty, hunger, and unemployment.”
“The leadership of the Labour Party has been following the recent political development in the Republic of Niger, and how Nigeria-led ECOWAS has threatened to lead the regional nations into a war of purging the coupists out of government from our neighboring country,” Ifoh said.
“We believe sincerely that charity should always begin at home. The holy book also said that one needs to remove the log on one’s eyes before talking about a spec on another’s eyes.
“The poor economic policies of the government, the hike in the prices of petroleum products, and the soaring forex situation have further deteriorated the living conditions of the people.
“So, with a country with such an enormous crisis, thinking of waging war against another country or defending democracy is not only laughable but misconceived and misdirected.
“We already have enough crises on our hands, from insecurity, hunger, unemployment, poverty, and poor infrastructure amongst others, I think the government has enough tasks to focus on rather than footloose into the internal affairs of another country.
“Nigeria cannot be playing the big brother of Africa when the people are hungry. We are giant of Africa only in name but we are far from living up to that expectation. The government needs to think about Nigeria first. We have enormous challenges on our hands.
“The government must focus on how to restore our economy, rebuild infrastructure, create jobs, and end killings and insecurity in Nigeria rather than waste time, resources, and energy in the affairs of another sovereign nation.”