The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vehemently condemns the determined efforts of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to push Nigeria towards a state of conflict, as they seek to involve our military in an unnecessary confrontation with Niger Republic.
In an official statement delivered by the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP takes note of the APC administration’s persistence in deploying Nigerian soldiers to Niger Republic, despite clear disapproval from the National Assembly and widespread opposition from Nigerians. This persistence only serves to reinforce the suspicions that have been circulating, suggesting hidden agendas within the Tinubu-led APC, aimed at orchestrating chaos to destabilize the nation for political gains.
While the PDP firmly opposes any unconstitutional changes in governance globally, our party firmly believes that the circumstances in Niger Republic do not justify external peacekeeping interventions. The situation there does not pose any discernible threat to our national interests that would warrant putting our already overburdened military in harm’s way for an unnecessary conflict.
The unrelenting push by the APC administration to engage in a conflict with Niger Republic is undeniably intensifying tensions within Nigeria. This strategy, according to Ologunagba, raises concerns that the APC is deliberately attempting to provoke potential external hostilities from Niger Republic. Such provocations could be exploited to declare a State of Emergency within Nigeria, potentially disrupting the judicial processes surrounding the 2023 Presidential election, while diverting attention from the economic hardships inflicted by the APC over the past two months.
It is evident that the APC’s intentions seem to lean towards manufacturing a scenario of an “impending threat of invasion or engagement in a state of war,” thereby providing a pretext to invoke Section 305 (3) (a) and (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and declare a State of Emergency.
The PDP contends that the reasons for the APC administration’s eagerness to engage in a conflict with Niger Republic remain elusive, especially in the face of the escalating insecurity within our own borders. It is bewildering that despite the ruthless killing of more than 500 innocent Nigerians in regions like Plateau, Benue, Niger, and Kaduna since May 2023, the APC administration has largely neglected addressing the security crisis at home.
Furthermore, the distressing aspect is that the APC appears ready to allocate substantial financial resources to wage an unnecessary war, even as our national economy languishes, the production sector remains crippled, energy shortages persist, unemployment rates soar, the value of the Naira plummets, and the nation grapples with the agonizing consequences of hasty and ill-conceived policies.
This attitude is emblematic of an administration that seemingly lacks empathy for the well-being and security of the nation and its citizens. The PDP urges the Military High Command to acknowledge the National Assembly’s reservations concerning the deployment of Nigerian troops to Niger Republic and to be guided by the stipulations of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
