Coup: N’Delta Activist, Ezekiel Warns Tinubu Against Invading Niger Republic

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

Niger Delta rights activist, Comrade Daniel Ezekiel has cautioned president Bola Ahmed Tinubu against going to war with Niger Republic following the recent coup in the country.

The Youth leader, while congratulating president Tinubu on his election victory warned that the Nigeria government should tread with caution, adding that invading Niger Republic might escalate regional war in the nearest end.

This is according to a statement which he signed by himself and a copy was sent to Congress news correspondent on Saturday.

The statement reads, “despite I didn’t support you during the February 25 presidential election, as a patriotic citizen, it is my duty to call your attention to danger if l see any. The issue of Niger Republic is one of such dangers I will like to talk to you about as it needs to be handled with diplomacy.

“According to a great philosopher, Franz Fanon, foresight is the perspective of a clear headed individual, on this strength, l appeal that you jettison the ideal of invading Niger Republic because at the long run ,it will be counter productive.

“His Excellency, let me go down memory lane, using some scenarios from the past that are similar to what will happen to Nigeria should we beçome a pawn in the economic interest of the west. Just the way hawks in the corridor of power in Abuja are urging you to unleash our Military might on small Niger, so also was American president then, Lyndon B. Johnson lured, based on the country militray strength to launch attacked on small Vietnam, August 1964.

“This mindset of superior power led U.S to it and got defeat in the battle. By the time America troops pulled out shamefully in 1973, 58,279 militray men were dead.
In 1979, USSR who was at the peak of it militray power invaded Afghanistan, but by the time President Leonid Brezhnev knew what was going on, Talibans had sent 15,000 of his troops to the grave. Also, out of shame, he withdrew his men in 1989.

“This miscalculation gave birth to Osama Bin laden and the new wave of terrorism sniffing peace out of the world today.
His Excellency, invasion of Libya and subsequent killing of Muhammad Gaddafi in 2011 led to lawlessness, high level of insecurity, rise in proliferation of arms and birth of different terror groups in Sahel, North Africa and West Africa.

“Another lesson to learn is that of Russian president, with all the bragging of President Vladimir Putin that within three days, he would be through with Ukraine based on his militray strength, but here we are, a year has passed, Russia is still battling to save face after loosing over Hundred Thousand (100,000) soldiers.
His Excellency, l know that you may be tempted to say who is this man talking ? but I pray that regional crisis am seeing does not come to pass.

“When your predecessor, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari was deceived into declaring war on inoccent man, TOMPOLO by illiterates and charlantans from Niger Delta, l did what am doing now by coming out in the media to urge him to stop.
Based on this my busybody, l was arrested in Warri city, and was taken to DSS detention in Abuja where l spent two years.

“In the course of several interviews in DSS custody, l kept saying one thing that let chañnel of dialogue be open with Tompolo because no amount of militray operation can bring about peace. Though initially, nobody listened to me, but when the country entered recession, they embraced my POSITION.

“His Excellency, this advice am also offering to you free of charge, but if you throw it away, like Papi Buhari did, GOD KNOWS THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER THIS DAY.
God bless Federal Republic of Nigeria”, he warned.