Think twice before invading Niger Republic, Bode George warns Tinubu

<p>George warned Tinubu that military action in the Niger Republic could lead to the collapse of ECOWAS.</p>, <span>Chief Bode George and President Bola Tinubu.</span>, <h2>Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu to rethink the proposed military invasion of Niger Republic by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)</h2>, <p>George's warning is contained in a letter he personally wrote to the President in which he put forward other suggestions to resolve the impasse between Niger and its West African allies.</p>, <p>Niger has come under the microscope since Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani led the presidential guard to depose the country's democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum, from office on July 26, 2023.</p>, <p>In a swift reaction, ECOWAS imposed a series of economic sanctions on Niger and also threatened to use military force to restore democratic order in the country if the putschers failed to do so at the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum.</p>, <p>But, George warned Tinubu, who also doubles as the regional body's Chairman, that the proposed military approach could result in the collapse of ECOWAS.</p>, <p>The PDP chieftain advised the President to continue to explore diplomatic channels as that is better than embarking on a “needless war.”</p>, <p>He stated that Nigeria already has serious economic and security challenges to contend with, and adding the Niger crisis to it may not augur well for his government.</p>, <p>According to George, “In Nigeria today, there is no food, no financial power to buy fuel, no light, no money. Nigerians are psychologically stranded and people are really going through a lot. So, I don’t know what our going to Niger Republic with full military power will achieve.”</p>, <p>He recalled that Nigeria almost singularly “financed ECOMOG military operations and that was when our economy was better. Which economy are we going to use now to finance a full military operation in