The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, has cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against the planned attack on the Niger Republic.
In a statement Monday in Abuja, the incarcerated Shi’ites leader was quoted as saying: “The people of Niger are our brothers.”
Condemning both ECOWAS and Tinubu’s stance, the leader described the situation as very shocking given the fact that Nigeria and Niger are one people.
He maintained that even if southern Nigeria does not see it that way, people in the Northern Nigeria, he insisted, had empires founded by Shehu Usman Danfodio and Kanem Borno.
The Shi’ite leader further pointed out the territories of empires that were carved out to create Niger and Nigeria.
The statement reads in part: “All of a sudden, France and the US want to use Nigeria to attack Niger. I once told you Gazargamu is the capital of Kanem Borno right? The fortification of the city is intact because there still exists remnants of the buildings. It may interest you to note that half of the fortification is on the Nigerien side of the border and the rest is in Nigeria.
“When our borders were partitioned, they did not take our history into cognizance. As I keep telling you, Borno territory was partitioned into four parts, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Most of the territory was part of the Borno. Furthermore, if you look at the territory of the Shehu Usman empire, from Borno up to Sokoto, each city was partitioned into two. If you look at the territory of Hadejia, some parts of it was annexed to Niger. A part of Gumel’s territory is part of Niger. If you cross the border of Maigatari, you are still part of Gumel’s territory but were ceded to Niger. A part of Kazaure is also part of Niger.
“This is the same fate that befell Daura. A large part of Daura also became part of Niger. Katsina was also partitioned into two parts: Katsina Maradi and Nigeria’s Katsina. They were all partitioned. Moreover, the Gobir Empire was also partitioned between Niger and Nigeria.
“The hometown of Shehu Usman Danfodio, Marata, is located in Niger. The cultural ties that Niger and Nigeria share are closer than people imagine. We are twin brothers, sharing the same roots and values. I hope this is clear.
“They are our brothers, since the hometown of our founding father, is located in their country. It is unimaginable that we would one day end up fighting against each other. It is shocking that these ruthless people want to use this country to attack our brothers, just to engage in fratricidal genocide, right?
“I heard that some Nigeriens claimed that Nigeria would attack them. I suggest that you perish the thought. Even if the threat of the invasion appears genuine. May Allah forbid this, we are not the ones attacking you. It was the handiwork of another power behind the scene in collaboration with the president who is going to attack you, but not Nigerians. We are not being consulted, we do not support it, and there is no way we can kill one another.
“Therefore, it is not Nigeria that is going to attack, it is other foreign powers who want to use Nigeria to do so. They are used to this.
“They once did it after the Islamic Revolution in Iran when they used Saddam Hussein to invade Iran. The war lasted for 8 years whereas the people of Iran and Iraq are one people. The cultural ties they share are so strong that a senior position in Iran is being fielded by an Iraqi.
“Ayatollah Sahrudi who is the Chief Judge of Iran, hailed from Iraq. He is the highest-ranking judge in Iran. You would see a lot of positions being fielded by Iraqis and nobody raises an eyebrow over the issue simply because they see each other as one.”
…Tinubu summons ECOWAS meeting
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has summoned a meeting of Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for Thursday over the recalcitrant reaction of the Niger junta that took over reins of government through a coup deta’t.
The meeting is expected to deliberate on the next line of action after the junta shunned the 7-day deadline given by the regional body to reinstate the deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.
ECOWAS had a week ago issued a 7-day deadline for the Niger junta to reinstate ousted President Bazoum or risk sanctions, including possible military intervention.
As ECOWAS chair, President Tinubu, Monday sent a notice of meeting scheduled for Thursday in Abuja.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has convened another Extraordinary Summit of the authority on the political situation in the Republic of Niger.
“The Summit will hold in Abuja on Thursday, August 10, 2023.
“The ECOWAS leaders will be considering and discussing the political situation and recent developments in Niger during the Summit,” read a statement issued by the regional body.
Sources said the Niger Republic military leader, Abdourahmane Tchiani has ordered reinforcements to Naimey, the country’s capital ahead of possible military invasion of the country by the ECOWAS.
