President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will today, Sunday, host a special meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders to deliberate on the coup d’etat in Niger Republic. The meeting couldn’t have come at a more auspicious time.

Our next door neighbour, Niger Republic, woke up last Wednesday to a constitutional crisis as mutinous soldiers of the country’s Presidential Guard held its democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum hostage, after sealing off access to his residence and office in the capital, Niamey.

By Wednesday night, the soldiers sounded a familiar tone. “We, the defence and security forces have decided to put an end to the regime of President Bazoum”, due to “the continued deterioration of the security situation, poor economic and social governance”, said their spokesman Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, in a televised address.

He then suspended all state institutions, closed air and land borders, and asked “all external partners” not to interfere.

The Nigerien Army, initially reluctant, soon joined the uprising in order to “preserve the physical integrity” of the president and his family and avoid “a deadly confrontation that could create a bloodbath and affect the security of the population”, according to the Army Chief of Staff. By Friday, coup mastermind and head of the Presidential Guard, Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, publicly declared himself the new leader of Niger.

Although he has not been heard again since then, President Bazoum had in a social media post on Thursday morning vowed to protect the “hard-won” democratic gains of his country. His Foreign Minister, Hassoumi Massoudou also issued a rallying cry on Twitter, calling “all democrats and patriots” to make the coup fail.

There are concerns particularly about the increasing reversal of democracy in francophone West Africa. Since 2020, rogue soldiers have overthrown democratic governments in Mali (August 2020 and May 2021), Guinea (September 2021), and Burkina Faso (January and September 2022). And now, another military usurpation of democracy in Niger. In 2021 alone, there were six coup attempts on the continent, four of them successful, a worrying trend that leaders both in Africa and beyond have decried.

For some of these recent successful coups, however, the military’s resurgence in government had been in part fueled by the unfortunate attempts by democratically elected leaders to extend their constitutional tenures, and thus giving the soldiers reason, however unjustifiable, to oust them. Niger’s case is different. President Bazoum had only been inaugurated in April 2021, following the December 2020 and February 2021 presidential elections in the country. The fact that Bazoum was not trying to perpetuate himself in power, having not even completed his first term, makes last week’s coup even more brazen, and therefore, completely unacceptable under any guise.

Moreover, we are compelled to observe some correlation between being Francophone and autocratic government among African countries, since democratization and multiparty systems became the norm in the late 1990s. We note, for example, that in Africa, countries where autocrats of old have remained in power to date, where leaders have successfully changed constitutional term limits, and where the presidency had passed from father to son are predominantly, if not exclusively, Francophone.

This is in sharp contrast to Anglophone countries like Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Liberia, etc, where constitutional rule has tended to become entrenched, even if they may not have delivered better dividends of democracy than elsewhere. Of course, Uganda and The Gambia present contrasting examples, but the correlation is particularly important because we wonder why the President of a Francophone African country, who not long ago publicly said that he would like to steer his country away from the apron strings of France, would suddenly find themselves deposed in a military coup for virtually no reason whatsoever.

We commend, the federal government which, in a significant diplomatic move, dispatched a high-powered delegation to Niamey, comprising the immediate former Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, Director General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar and Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Abubakar, to engage with the coup leaders to facilitate dialogue and seek a peaceful resolution.

We also commend the UN, the EU and AU, as well as world leaders who have condemned the coup and spoken words of support for Bazoum and democracy. Notably also, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the chairman of Authority of Heads of States and Governments of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has issued a stern warning that the sub-region would not tolerate anti-democratic forces in Niamey.

The usual verbal platitudes would not do, however. This is why today’s ECOWAS emergency summit is imperative. The regional body must unite and push against this brazen assault on the region’s sensibilities. Nigeria should take this threat to democracy on its neighbour as a reprehensible affront that most not stand.

As we did in Sao Tome and Principe in 2003, and The Gambia more recently, Nigeria must marshal and deploy all regional, continental and global measures to restore democracy to Niger Republic and return President Bazoum to power. Nigeria must reject the resurgence of military rule in Africa completely, particularly one that is right next door.

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has condemned the killing of traders in Ogbete Main Market in Enugu who were protesting against the government sealing of their shops for not coming to market on Monday over the sit-at-home order.

Intersociety in a statement while reacting to the violence unleashed on traders on Wednesday, called on Governor Mbah to quickly retrace its steps before it was too late, to avoid plunging the state into another Imo killing field, and wittingly or unwittingly supervise wanton destruction of the “Garden-Capital City of the East”.

In the statement signed by its principal officers – Emeka Umeagbalasi, Obianuju Igboeli Esq, Chinwe Umeche Esq, and Ositadinma Agu, the Intersociety queried what the Enugu State government had done about the “Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and the MACABAN’s Fulani Vigilante Group terrorising over 22 Enugu communities.”

The organisation described the Executive ‘criminalisation’ of the “Monday-Sit-At-Home” by ways of “tyrannical orders or military and police siege or threats of force or use of same including sealing off markets and use of deadly force against stick and placard-carrying victim-population are nothing short of Executive recklessness and abuse of office.

“They are also clear acts of criminalization of security and other safe conditions or de-criminalization of insecurity and other unsafe conditions. Such Executive conducts are also unconstitutional, illegal, extra-legal, extra jus, and impeachable,” they insisted.

The leadership of Intersociety stated that Enugu State Government must as a matter of uttermost urgency and inexcusability unseal and reopen all markets and other businesses it tyrannically shut down and refrain from such dastardly acts of Executive recklessness and brigandage. “The lawful act of doing business in Enugu or any part thereof must not be allowed to be criminalized and made vulnerable to state and non-state dark forces of destruction.”

It told Governor Mbah that if he is truly concerned, then his Government must critically address the fundamental causes and the triggers of the “Monday-Sit-At-Home” which it said include the continued detention without trial of Nnamdi Kanu and sources of the political support and weaponisation by those behind proclamation and enforcement of the “Monday-Sit-At-Home” including whether they are linked or not linked to Nigeria’s national or sub-national Government(s) or their top functionaries.

“It must again be pointed out that going by the clear provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Treaty Rights and Humanitarian Laws, ‘Sit-At-Home’ is not a criminal offence, and exercise of same has never constituted criminal offence known to written law with prescribed penalties in the country.”

“Criminalising ‘Sit-At-Home’ is like criminalizing Rights to Freedom of Worship and Ethnicity guaranteed by the same Section 38 of the Constitution; likewise Section 37 which guarantees citizens’ right to Family and Privacy. By Section 1 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, “if any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution, the Constitution shall prevail and that other law shall to the extent of its inconsistency be void.”

Sit-at-home though could be economically damaging in the context of “Monday-Sit-At-Home.”

It, however, does not constitute criminal offense(s), Intersociety insisted, citing Section 36 (8) and (12) of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 as amended which specifically forbids any form of executive criminalisation and punishment of any citizen over act or conduct that does not constitute an offense with prescribed penalties in a written law as at the time such act or conduct was carried out.

“So, the conducts of the present Governor and Government of Enugu State are also nothing short of false gallantry and state extremism. It is therefore correct to say that the combined negative effects of abuse of office, pride, and arrogance are at work as well as mis-prioritisation and misapplication of governance policy directions.”

According to the group, Governor Mbah’s radical approaches to “Monday-Sit-At-Home” and their unfolding social consequences would have been avoided and the issue handled with extreme care and caution.

The statement partly read, “One of the frontal ways of handling and ending the “Monday-Sit-At-Home” is a political solution including releasing Nnamdi Kanu on parole and putting an end to age-long ‘structural, physical and cultural violence policy’ against the people of Eastern Nigeria such as political exclusion and reversal of the former President Buhari’s Government ‘operational death code’ against defenseless citizens of the Region.

“Additionally, what is the guarantee that the drafted security agencies especially the military, police, and DSS (Department of State Services) are not “enemy security forces” hiding under the enforcement of “Monday-Sit-At-Home” to massacre defenseless citizens at sight and falsely label them “IPOB/ESN Sit-At-Home Enforcers”? What are the ethnic and religious compositions of the deployed police and military personnel in the South-East including Enugu State?

“What is the position or policy direction of the Governor and Government of Enugu State regarding the unchecked activities of the Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and the MACABAN’s Fulani Vigilante Group terrorising over 22 Enugu communities? What are the operational approaches or attitudes of the deployed police, military, and DSS operatives and their chiefs toward Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen in Enugu State?

“It is therefore unfortunate and deeply regrettable that instead of the present Governor and Government of Enugu State marshaling out or pursuing their development plans by cutting them into the likes of the UNDP’s 1992 ‘Human Security and its Seven Dimensions (health security, food security, economic security, environmental security, personal security, community security, and physical security), they are busy beating about the bush by “criminalising security” and “de-criminalising insecurity” to over-bloat the State Governor’s monthly security votes and have them wastefully spent without statutory accountability in line with the international best practices.

“It is historically unheard of in democratic settings that an elected State Governor uses State coercive instruments to clampdown on defenseless citizens and their immovable and moveable properties including hard-earned goods and services simply because they conscientiously resolved to stay off their businesses in solidarity with Nnamdi Kanu’s continued detention without proper or expeditious trial or compelled to do so to avoid being killed by the strongly suspected Government-linked armed group(s) or hateful and crude security agencies.”

The kidnapped famous Anambra native doctor, Chidozie Nwangwu popularly called “Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki”, has been released.

The Anambra State Police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed his release on Saturday

Ikenga said that the popular native doctor was released by his abductors in the early hours of Saturday.

Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki was kidnapped around 11:30pm on Sunday, July 23 at his Triple P Hotel in Oba, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.

Ikenga, who did not disclose the amount his abductors collected said the abductors reached out to the native doctor’s colleagues and some money was paid to them before he was freed.

He said, “I have the information that his abductors have contacted friends and relatives and demanded some millions.

“I also have information that his abductors are demanding some specific amount which I have not gotten the accurate figure.

“According to speculation, they said it’s between N200 million and N300million. We are making efforts to get in touch with him and also get accurate information surrounding his abduction.

“Yes, he has been released this morning. We are waiting to debrief him, with a view to getting his experience and clue of who the abductors are, so that we can go after them.”

It was also gathered that friends and well-wishers are currently gathering in his palatial mansion to welcome him.

A source said, “He was released very early this morning. He is currently celebrating with his friends and well-wishers in his house in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area”

Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki 

“His friends rallied round and raised the money for the abductors, but they demanded an additional N50 million, which was also delivered to them before he was released.”

Russia has signed agreements for military cooperation with over 40 African countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Friday in St Petersburg.

“For the purposes of bolstering the defence capability of the continent’s countries, we are developing partnerships in the military and military-technical spheres,” Putin said during the second and final day of the second Russia-Africa Summit.

“Russia has signed agreements on military-technical cooperation with more than 40 African states, to which we supply a broad range of armaments and hardware.”

Putin stated that African states received a wide range of weapons and technology, some for free “with the aim of enhancing the security and sovereignty of the countries.”

Representatives from African countries have been invited to actively participate in Russian-organized military forums dealing with the technical aspects of the weapons and also manoeuvres to become familiar with the equipment and its use.

Putin reiterated that Russia would continue to be a reliable supplier of grain to the continent’s countries.

The pledge came after Russia ended a deal that allowed Ukrainian grain to be exported through the Black Sea. Ukraine is a major supplier of grain to Africa.

The chairman of the African Union said in his closing address at the summit that Putin’s proposals to provide grain were insufficient.

“Yes, this is important, but it may not be quite enough. We need to achieve a ceasefire,” Azali Assoumani said.

“President Putin has shown us that he is ready to engage in dialogue and find a solution,” he added. “Now we need to convince the other side.”

The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has warned that African countries will experience prolonged consequences after Russia suspended the Ukrainian grain deal.

“The impact of the war in Ukraine will almost certainly compound food insecurity in Africa for at least the next two years,” the ministry said in its daily update on Twitter on Friday.

The expired agreement previously enabled the transportation of 30 million tons of Ukrainian grain to other countries via the Black Sea.

Russia’s “blockade of Ukraine” has disrupted deliveries of essential food supplies to countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Sudan, also leading to rising grain prices, the MoD statement read.

On Friday, the Russian president promised to provide Zimbabwe, Mali, Burkina Faso, Somalia, Eritrea and the Central African Republic with 25,000 to 50,000 tons of grain for free in the next three to four months.

Russia is also aiming to expand its presence in Africa by opening new consulates and embassies and increasing staff in existing diplomatic representations.

The nation has a surplus of available personnel after around 600 Russian representatives were forced to leave Western countries amid tensions, partly due to EU states’ suspicions of espionage.

After appeals for peace in Ukraine at the summit, Putin reiterated his willingness to negotiate over Ukraine.

“We have said several times, I have officially communicated, that we are ready for these negotiations,” he said.

However, Russia had no way of forcing either side into such talks, Putin asserted.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak criticised what he called the Russians’ “traditional negotiating whine.”

He said it “makes no sense” for the Ukraine currently to negotiate with Russia.

“If Moscow wants to negotiate, the path is clear. 1. Get out of Ukraine. 2. Change the political elite. 3. Admit war crimes. 4. Extradite the authors of the war to the tribunal,” Podolyak tweeted.

The West accuses Putin of not being seriously interested in negotiations, after he repeatedly denied Ukraine’s right to exist as a free, sovereign state in the past.

The United States, Germany and other NATO members have repeatedly called on Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine as a precondition for negotiations. Moscow has rejected this.

Western countries criticized the Russia-Africa Summit as a “PR show” and as an attempt by Putin to make African countries even more dependent on Russia.

During the meetings with the African heads of state and government at the conference, Putin sought to demonstrate that he is not internationally isolated.

According to the Kremlin, 49 out of 54 countries on the continent are represented, with only 17 being heads of state or government, fewer than during the inaugural summit in 2019. (NAN)