- Tijaniyyah Brotherhood advises ECOWAS for diplomatic resolution to Niger’s leadership crisis, warns against military intervention and economic suffering
- The Muslim group emphasizes the need for caution and prayer for peace, discouraging military involvement in the crisis
The International Organization of Tijaniyyah Brotherhood, an Islamic organization, has urged ECOWAS to pursue a diplomatic solution to Niger Republic’s leadership crisis.
The advice is in an open letter addressed to Nigerian President Bola Tinibu, also the Chairman of the regional body ECOWAS.
The letter, signed by the Brotherhood’s Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi El-Okene, and Secretary, Prof. Mustafa Gwadabe, was released on Sunday in Abuja.
The crisis should be handled with caution and maturity, so as not to inflict more hardship and economic dislocation on the people of Niger and those in Nigeria around the border with Niger.
Already, people are living in hard times and require sympathy rather than dragging them into a war, it said.
Although military intervention in Niger politics is not welcome, the Brotherhood believes that using military force to restore the ousted government will only lead to more chaos.
Indeed the economic sanctions which were imposed under the directive of ECOWAS will inflict more suffering on the ordinary people of Niger.
These sufferings have a direct impact on the inhabitants of the border towns in Nigeria, the Tijjaniyya said.
According to the organization, military intervention in the crisis would undermine democracy in the sub-region rather than strengthen it.
The Muslim group, on the other hand, has stated unequivocally that any military intervention in Niger Republic is unacceptable.
It urged Nigerians to pray for peace and stability in Nigeria, Niger Republic, and the rest of the sub-region.