Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Saturday, raised the alarm over alleged plot by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to go to war over coup in Niger to enable him declare a state of emergency in Nigeria and suspend the ongoing Presidential Election Tribunal (PET).
Frank who gave this warning in a statement in Abuja, accusing the President of capitalising on his position as ECOWAS chairman to legitimize his stolen election mandate in Nigeria.
He insisted that Tinubu’s warmongering over Niger is selfishly motivated as he seeks to through it gain political capital by legitimizing his administration and securing the recognition of international bodies that hitherto have not recognized him as duly elected president.
Frank warned the President not to lead Nigeria into war with Niger as the consequence of such an action would result in long term economic, political and social devastation of the country.
He said: “It is clear to discerning minds that Tinubu wants to find an alibi to declare war in Niger and under that declare a state of emergency in Nigeria which will invariably lead to suspension of the ongoing sitting of the Presidential Election tribunal.
“He is not out to restore democracy in Niger Republic. He is out to legitimize and gain recognition for his government from western allies. Let Nigeriens solve their problems, Nigeria has enough challenges of its own,” he declared.
Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, also accused ECOWAS Heads of States and Governments of not working to deepen democracy in the subregion by ensuring good governance.
He said they often remain silent when Presidents illegally steal the people’s mandate through electoral fraud and manipulate constitutional provisions to elongate their tenure in office.
