Coup: Without ‘big stick’ on Niger, we’ll suffer consequences – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu said the coup in Gabon confirmed his fears that “copycats” will replicate military takeovers on the African continent until the trend is halted.

Soldiers deposed President Ali Bongo of Gabon on Wednesday, bringing to an end his family’s 57-year hold on power in the central African country.

The coup came a month after the military in Niger sacked President Mohamed Bazoum, sparking a threat by the Nigeria-led regional bloc Ecowas to intervene militarily.

Mr Tinubu, who chairs Ecowas, has said military action to return Niger to democracy will be the last resort. He has despatched envoys to negotiate with coup leaders in Niger, but the diplomatic effort has yielded no result so far.

The junta has said it will restore civilian rule in three years. Mr Tinubu said the offer should they were not sincere, citing how Nigeria’s Abdulsalami Abubakar implemented a nine-month transition programme in 1999.

The Nigerian leader spoke Thursday when he received the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, at the State House, his spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale said in a statement.

Key quotes to note

“I must thank you for your several visits to Niger Republic, Your Eminence, but you will still have to go back. My fear has been confirmed in Gabon that copycats will start doing the same thing until it is stopped,” he told Mr Abubakar.

‘’We are neighbours with Niger Republic, and what has joined Nigerians together with their great people cannot be broken. Nobody is interested in a war. We have seen the devastation in Ukraine and Sudan. But, if we don’t wield the big stick, we will all suffer the consequences together.”

Mr Tinubu urged the cleric to return to Niger for more talks.

“Your Eminence, please don’t get tired, you will still go back there. The soldiers’ action is unacceptable. The earlier they make positive adjustments, the quicker we will dial back the sanctions to alleviate the sufferings we are seeing in Niger,” the President said.

The sultan of Sokoto pledged “one hundred per cent loyalty” to the president, saying a leader can only reach a position by the will of God, and not man.

“God will hold all leaders to account, in justice and fairness,” he said.