Renowned Nigerian political commentator, Reno Omokri, has voiced skepticism over the recent promise made by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, the coup plotter and de facto leader of Niger Republic, to hand over power to a civilian government within three years.
Recall that as Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, perfected plans to introduce military action to root out the military government, the junta head made the announcement after meeting mediators from the West African regional bloc in the capital, Niamey.
Omokri argued that this pledge is nothing more than a strategic maneuver to consolidate the general’s authority and deceive the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the international community.
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In a statement released few hours ago, Omokri expressed his concerns that General Tchiani’s apparent commitment to transitioning to a democratic civilian government is merely a façade designed to secure his grip on power.
The political commentator alleges that Tchiani’s promise is a calculated move to deceive ECOWAS, which has been urging a quick return to democratic rule in Niger Republic following the military coup that ousted the previous government.
He wrote:
The so-called promise by the coup leader, General Tchiani, to hand over to civilians in three years is worthless. It is not even worth the value of the paper from which he read it. The man is just looking for relief from the ECOWAS, and if ECOWAS leaders give in, he will consolidate himself until another strongman removes him. Didn’t Abacha promise that his administration would be “brief”? Power corrupts, and absolute power, such as the type currently being wielded by Tchiani, corrupts absolutely.
ECOWAS should continue with the squeeze in Niger. Why do they still have GSM and Internet data? They depend on the French-based Eutelsat. Shut it down. Shut them out of the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications.
Nobody should be rattled by Wagner forces in Niger. Wagner are merciless mercenaries. They fight for money. Without money, their appetite for Niger will soon dim. And Russia is not in a position to financially support Niger for a sustained period. It has its domestic issues to contend with.
Consign Niger back to the Stone Age, and his own soldiers and people will eventually turn against him, and General Tchiani will be forced to flee to either Russia or their client states like Mali or Burkina Faso.
If General Tchiani is allowed to trick ECOWAS and get them to accept his Taqiyya promise, the domino effect of coup will continue to other West African nations. This is beyond Niger. Make Tchiani a scapegoat!
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
