In writing this article, I simply can’t help but quote a popular Yoruba proverb which says “it is an irony fate that water, the best and the closest friend of the fish would turn out to be the one that is deployed to cook the fish to death” I liken the relationship between water and fish to the relationship between Niger and Nigeria.
Some of you might view that equivalency as too hyperbolic and draconian but they might agree with me when I give my reasons for saying so.
If any Nigerian neighbor country should be the one to cause the downfall of Nigeria it ought not to be Niger at all is the point I am making with this article.
I say it because Niger has been the greatest beneficiary from Nigeria from the days of President Hamani Diori of Niger as the closest friend of General Yakubu Gowon during his tenure as Nigerian Head of State. I was in the Federal Ministry of Defense from 1968 to 1971 and I was privy to some Defense Policy of Nigeria with all of our neighbor countries in West Africa and I knew that the relationship with Niger was unique and special.
Every successive Nigerian Government since Tafawa Balewa has always treated Niger as the most favored neighbor of Nigeria.
In fact many have described Niger as an extension of Nigeria even though Niger is a Francophone country whose Lingua Franca is French but their native tongue is Hausa which is the predominant language of the 3 Geo-political zones of Nigeria closest to Niger. No less than 7 states of the North share boundaries with Niger. If Nigeria gets into a war with Niger, that war is likely to set spread and set the west African sub region ablaze. You can write that down and put my name to it. The War is going to spread like Bush fire in the Harmattan.
The boundary between Niger and Nigeria is so porous that many Niger people around the border often cross the border to work or to farm on the Nigerian side.
During election time many people from Niger cross over to vote on the Nigerian side and many of them are counted as Nigerians at Census time. If you add much of the 27 million population of Niger to that of Northern Nigeria, you can understand why the South can never win the debate that the South has a higher population than the North because more people gravitate to the coastal belt of the South as forcefully and eloquently argued by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. But when you add the population of Niger to that of northern Nigeria, you get a different ball game.
Nigerian leaders like Sani Abacha and Mohammadu Buhari trace their roots back to Niger as Nigerians and people from Niger easily intermarry because Hausa Fufude are the two predominant languages spoken in the two countries and we look and behave the same way and we share the same religion, culture and traditions.
Mohammadu Buhari in particular had made sure that Niger and Nigeria and connected by train and that Niger enjoys all of the benefits of being a good neighbor to Nigeria.
I recall as the Secretary to the Joint Economic Commission of Nigeria with the rest of the World that the first joint Economic meeting arranged by me as Secretary was held at Niger on the authority of the Federal Government.
The meeting was held at the second largest city named Maradi which is closer to the border of Nigeria with Nigeria.
Once you cross from Sokoto to Gwagwalada the next major city you reach is Maradi in Niger. You cannot tell the difference between the two countries.
I visited the country many times and I travel far and wide in the country, so I know what I am talking about
I have never seen a country share so many characteristics and attributes with Nigeria like Niger. Not one!!
I mention all the above as a prelude to my point that President Tinubu has some vital lessons to learn in his dealings with Niger and in his capacity as the newly appointed rotating Chairman of ECOWAS.
The current situation in Niger has to be handled with maximum care and diplomacy and never by issuing ultimatum which can only inflame the situation and cause more harm in both countries.
This is not a criticism of Tinubu who has inherited a lot of problems from his immediate predecessor. The National Assembly and the Senate made a wide decision to not give the authorization for war but to settle first and foremost for Diplomacy and Dialogue as the way to go.
President Tinubu surely needs time to settle down and to get all of his options and priorities right before we start criticizing him and putting all of the blames on him.
He needs all of the advice he can get from all of us
The video shown below of Balewa the first Prime Minister of Nigeria explaining his policy in lucid language and fluent English is a case in point and exactly the right tone to set.
The same thing goes with Pa Obafemi Awolowo as the pioneer Premier of Western Region and the pacesetter in good and dynamic Government in Nigeria and the example of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande and his exemplary performance as the best Governor of Lagos State whose tenure in office has been rated the best among his peers.
President Tinubu has set a high record of achievements in Lagos that he can build on now that he has achieved his ultimate ambition to be elected the President of Nigeria.
I personally have high hopes that the guy would perform even though he is currently experiencing some hiccups right now but I believe he will stabilize and settle down if we give him a little more time.
A problem that took more than 50 years to build up and to fester cannot be solved or eliminated in a few months.
Nigerians would be expecting a miracle if we all think there is a silver bullet to solve the problems of Nigeria in one fell swoop.
It is going to take a little time.
A little patience coupled with good planning is the name of the game.
It has got to get worse before it gets better.
I rest my case.
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