Avoid war with Niger junta, PFN urges Tinubu, ECOWAS

Oke said, “We appreciate the stand of Nigeria and ECOWAS against the military coup. Military coup is old-fashioned and we don’t want it. Not in Nigeria and not in West Africa or any part of the world. Blood will flow when you go to war, women would become widows when you go to war, and children would become fatherless when you go to war, so going to war shouldn’t be an option. What about drawing sanctions? We are praying for you that the Lord will guide you as our president, Tinubu. Please, don’t go to war.”

He made this appeal during the press conference held at the end of the 2023 Executive Retreat of the PFN, titled, “Going from Strength to Strength,” held at Waniq Event Center, Jericho in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The PFN president further urged Tinubu and the newly appointed cabinet members to assuage the pains of Nigerians rather than add to their long-drawn anguish and sorrow occasioned by poor governance experienced under the past leadership.

Oke stressed that rather than fight those who did not contribute to his electoral victory, he should be magnanimous by bringing relief to all Nigerians regardless of class or creed.

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“Nigeria had just gone through the general election; it was a keenly fought election. We do not want to comment on that, let the Tribunal finish their work. We are praying that God will guide them. We want to enjoin all Nigerians to accept the verdict of the Tribunal and let’s move on with rebuilding the foundation.

“We should come together in unity and let the healing begin because the politics of the past few months (during electioneering) inflicted serious injury on people in various sectors of our nation. We should learn a lesson from Sudan. 30 years ago, they had an election that led to war.

“We cannot afford a war. We don’t want war in Nigeria. So, when the Tribunal read out its verdict, let everybody bury the hatchet. Let’s join our hands together to build Nigeria. If we do that, another election would come. The loser now can be the winner tomorrow if there is a nation. If there is war, there will be no room for elections, so let’s accept whatever verdict the Tribunal would render, and let’s go ahead to build a new Nigeria. The Lord will help us.

“Tinubu has assigned new Ministers, 46 of them. We want to enjoin the president and his cabinet; we have a counsel for you Mr President, the experience in the last eight years had been very traumatic for Nigerians. Kidnapping, banditry, Fulani herdsmen, ritualism, all manners of evil plus very terrible corruption. It was too bad. Then, with the economy, Nigerians are battling with so much. Mr. President and the ministers, please relieve Nigerians of their pains, don’t add to it.” He pleaded.

The Director of Diaspora Operations for PFN, Goddy Okafor, said, “War does no one any good. Presently, most Nigerians are apprehensive over the stand of ECOWAS. People are jittery of whether Nigeria would lead other ECOWAS nations to battle with Niger (or not).

“PFN as a body that is geared towards praying for peace and prosperity of our nation has been praying so that our leaders would make the right decisions. War does no one any good so we are praying for peace to prevail. We want peace both in Nigeria and in Niger. We want our leaders to toe the line of peace.” Okafor also pleaded.

Dignitaries present were the PFN Chairman in the state, Sampson Ajetunmobi; the National Administrative Officer, Akinola; Bayelsa State Chairman, Tam Eyedoude and the PFN National Secretary, Cosmas Ilechukwu.