Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has advised Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, against the use of military force to remove the military coupists in Niger Republic.
NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said “Despite our unimpeachable credentials in the popular struggle against military rule, we would strongly counsel against the use of military force to remove the military junta in Niger Republic.”
Recalled that Authority of ECOWAS (Committee of Heads of State/Governments) has on August 10, after a second extraordinary summit, issued a terse statement to deploy military might to restore democracy in Niger.
It also directed the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately.
Ajaero in the statement, said: “It will amount to stating the obvious that we at the NLC are averse to military rule.
“Indeed the history of the struggle for democratic rule in Nigeria cannot be complete without mentioning the illustrious contribution of the Labour Movement.
READ ALSO:My refusal to compromise led to my retirement at 48, says Oyegun
“Despite our unimpeachable credentials in the popular struggle against military rule, we would strongly counsel against the use of military force to remove the military junta in Niger Republic.”
He added, “Even after the war is over, the region must brace itself for raised acts of terrorism or insurgency.
“This is just as it might signal the end of ECOWAS as we know it today given the scenario of 10 members fighting five,” he said.
According to him, “ECOWAS must conduct itself in such a manner that its citizens and the world would believe it has a mind of its own.
“Coupled with this, we at the Congress have reason to believe that ECOWAS in part is victim of its double standards or discriminatory policies.
“As it was in some instances seen as condoning and even celebrating coups.
“In the extant matter of Niger Republic, we equally do believe that ECOWAS did not exhaust the process of dialogue before beating war drums.
“The missions to Niamey were seen as an afterthought,” he added.
READ ALSO:Drug baroness, 4 others arrested as NDLEA busts 3 syndicates in Lagos
Further, he said: “Beyond all this, time has come for us to ask ourselves if we have the economic strength to prosecute this war.
“Even seasoned Generals do admit that we can often predict the beginning of wars but can seldom tell how they end.
“As we stated at the beginning of this statement, we are advocates of democracy and will do all that is necessary to promote and preserve it.
“However, what will preserve democracy in our territories will not be the threat or use of military force against sovereign nations but the observance of the core values and rules of democracy,” he said.
“It is in consideration of these that we join other organisations and respected voices in saying ‘No to War,” he noted.
