The Editorial Board
General Tchiani and Niger ought to dismiss President Tinubu’s ultimatum, given his current compromised state of mind.
Although we’re not in favor of military coups, we also do not support engaging in warfare to prevent a bloodless coup.
Isn’t it ironical that Tinubu is resorting to war to thwart a coup, considering the allegations that on February 25, 2023, he orchestrated a coup against the Nigerian people’s will, overthrowing their votes and declaring himself President?
However, what prompts his interference in Niger’s internal matters? It seems that external forces from France and the United States have pushed him into this crisis, reducing him to a mere puppet.
If Tinubu drives Nigeria into a confined proxy conflict, leading to the suffering of both Nigerians and Nigeriens, all in the name of securing Western access to Niger’s uranium, decisive measures like impeachment or removal from office should be taken.
Niger, ranking as the seventh-largest uranium producer globally, significantly contributes to Western civil and military nuclear industries.
Remarkably, despite its valuable uranium resources, Niger remains one of the world’s most impoverished nations.
This paradox emerges due to France exploiting the uranium reserves in exchange for military equipment, resulting in the accumulation of excess foreign reserves in French banks under the French government’s control, with little going back to the poor people of Niger.
The baffling question remains: Why would Tinubu associate himself with such irrationality? The answer becomes clear upon closer examination: It’s payback time. Leveraging Tinubu’s previous drug-related issues in America, the United States seems to be pressuring him into orchestrating a mutually destructive regional conflict.
It is the responsibility of Nigerians to reject this nonsensical course of action.
Tinubu should concentrate on the numerous domestic issues that require attention, rather than entangling the nation in a war aimed at fulfilling Western interests in uranium.
