By Gbenga Oloniniran
The founder of One Love Family, Satguru Maharaj Ji, has kicked against proposed moves by President Bola Tinubu to deploy military personnel for intervention in the troubled Niger Republic following the recent coup in the country.
In a statement in Ibadan, Maharaj Ji warned that it was wrong to attempt to restore democracy in the Sahel country by the use of force such as deploying troops.
“It is the right of the people of Niger to fight for the restoration of democracy in their country if they so wish, and any attempt by anybody, anywhere, other than in Niger, will be tantamount to employing undemocratic means to achieve a democratic end,” Maharaj Ji said in the statement obtained on Sunday.
The PUNCH reports that Tinubu, who doubles as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, had on Friday written to the Nigerian Senate to seek support for “military build-up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant.”
The Senate, however, turned down the request on Saturday, urging ECOWAS to explore diplomacy instead of war.
Speaking further in the statement, Maharaj Ji said, “One Love Family is particularly worried by ECOWAS ultimatum given to the coup plotters to restore power to the person they overthrew within one week (which was vehemently rejected by them) or face the wrath of the union, which presumably includes employing violent means against a sovereign member.
“Notwithstanding the preference which many people have for democracy and its principles, the choice for the route to good governance is strictly that of citizens of each country. leaders of Niger went counter to democratic protocols and it encroached on the sovereignty of the country.”
Source: The Punch
