The coupists in Niger Republic have explained their actions to unseat the democratically elected government of Mohamed Bazoum in the country, was also for the interest of Nigeria, its neighbouring country and also explained why they snubbed the delegation sent by the Nigerian Government.
Penpushing reports that the coup leader, Abdourahmane Tchiani stated this explanation when they(coupists) met with the Nigerian Islamic scholars in Niamey, the country capital, which was led by Bala Lau, emphasizing that Niger Republic and Nigeria were not only neighbours but brothers and sisters.
The coup leader claimed the coup was well intended, emphasizing that they struck to starve off an imminent threat that would have affected not only Niger but also Nigeria, but did not state what the imminent threat was.
Penpushing further reports that a statement by Bala Lau, who led a team of Nigerian Islamic scholars to the meeting added that the coupists claimed that they refused to meet an Economic Community of West Africa(ECOWAS) delegation led by former Nigerian military leader, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, for not hearing them out before issuing them an ultimatum
The leader of the junta, in the statement however, apologised for his action noting that the junta’s doors are open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter, but it was not clear if reasons were given by the coupists for not meeting delegations from the African Union(AU), United Nations(UN) and the United States of America(USA).
Penpushing also reports that at the meeting the Islamic scholars told the coup leader that the visit to them was to engage in constructive dialogue to encourage them to toe the path of peace instead of war to resolve the crisis.
The coup leaders and the Nigerian team agreed to further at the meeting to explore using dialogue to resolve the political crisis in Niger Republic, noting that Nigeria and Niger Republic as brothers and sisters should resolve issues amicably.
Penpushing reports that another member of the intervention team Abdulrahman Ahmad, debunked speculations in some quarters that the team was not well received, adding that both parties had a fruitful deliberation.
The Chief Missioner of Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria, Abdulrahman Ahmad while speaking with journalists after the meeting said the team was heading home to brief President Bola Tinubu, who doubles as the Chairman of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
‘We will now go back home and report to President Tinubu what we have discussed and press it on him that war is not an option in resolving the matter. We believe that war is an ill wind that will not blow any good and that peaceful resolution should prevail”, he said
Penpushing further reports that the team comprised scholars from various Islamic organisations in the country including Kabiru Gombe, the secretary of Jamatul Izalatul Bida Waikamatul Sunnah; Yakubu Katsina, Director of Daawah of JIBWIS; Dahiru Bauchi, represented by Ibrahim Bauchi and Khalid Aliya, the Secretary-General of Jammatul Nasril Islam.
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