Professor Babafemi Badejo, a former deputy special representative of the UN secretary-general for Somalia, has cautioned that Nigeria lacks the financial resources required to conduct a military campaign in the Niger Republic.
The Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, proceeded too quickly in threatening to employ force without considering the likelihood of its success, according to Badejo, a professor of political science and international relations.
He expressed his opinions on Thursday when appearing as a guest on the Morning Show program on Arise Television.
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ECOWAS has little experience acting as an intervention force, Badejo continued.
He said, “There’s a lot of difference between Liberia and Sierra Leon and the Niger.
“In case of Niger, a coup has taken place. We will be in denial if we are to say that it’s just a mutiny that is still ongoing. It’s very clear that we have a coup that lasted 48 hours, then you accept that it’s a coup that has succeded. It’s no longer an attempt. And Nigeriens have since been consolidating. They are building up relationships with a number of countries, starting with ones that are also under ECOWAS sanctions.
“I think we moved too fast in threatening to use force without weighing the possibilities of our success in using such a force. And ECOWAS has a very limited experience in terms of being an intervention force. We have not even succeeded in solving our governance and economic issues, and we are turning our team into an intervention force.
“I am of the opinion that we don’t have the financial capability, necessary muscle at this particular point in time to carry out an operation inside Niger. And it’s not up to the stage; Mohammed Bazoum is still alive, we are happy about that. We should not hasten a situation in which he is a hostage in the hands of the junta.
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“I understand that they have since appointed generals for the eight regions of the country. And so they consolidated and they sent flights out to go and negotiate its relationship possibilities with the WAGNER group and the rest of it and whatever.
“So, it’s not looking good. I think the lack of experience that our president face should be corrected by his advisers and institutions that we have.”
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