Benin City, 08 August, 2023 / 9:50 pm (ACI Africa).
The President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government against launching any military expedition against Niger’s coup plotters, noting that such a move could lead into bloodshed.
Speaking at a pastoral visit to inaugurate the Mary Mother of God Catholic Parish of Owerri Archdiocese, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji also urged President Tinubu to discourage other heads of states within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against launching any forms of military interventions in Niger.
“About a week ago, ECOWAS heads of state met in Abuja, to deliberate on the recent coup d’état in Niger Republic. At the end of their meeting, they gave the coup plotters one week to restore democratic leadership in Niger or risk military intervention. This marching order expires today,” Archbishop Ugorji said in a Monday, August 7 report.
The Local Ordinary of Owerri Archdiocese added, “President Tinubu should please, not launch any military expedition in Niger. We are begging him to dissuade ECOWAS heads of state, to resist the temptation of going to war, against the coup plotters.”
The Nigerian Archbishop expressed solidarity with ECOWAS in condemning the Nigerien coup, and added, “But we also believe that shedding precious human blood is equally wrong. Two wrongs can never make a right.”