Members of ECOWAS Parliament were divided over taking military action as an option to tackle the political situation in Niger Republic.
Parliamentarians, who were against military intervention, highlighted the economic consequences on the people of Niger if invaded.
Ali Djibo, from Niger Republic, said the government had already closed at least 9,000 schools due to the crisis.
“War will only compound the economic woes peoples of the sub-region are already going through.
“As we speak, over a thousand trucks carrying goods, are stranded at the border.
“If a coup happened in Nigeria or Cote’d’Iviore tomorrow, where’s the ECOWAS going to mobilise troops to fight the Nigerian or Ivorian military? How many borders are we going to close?
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“We must also bear in mind that if we’re applying ECOWAS treaty, it should be applicable to all,” Djibo said.
Awaji-Inombek Dagomie Abiante said ECOWAS must pay keen attention to and address the root causes of coups in member countries.
On the other hand, Parliamentarians making a case for military intervention in Niger said diplomacy had contributed to the rising spate of military takeover of government in the West African sub-region.
Contributing, Adebayo Balogun, remarked that ECOWAS leaders were proposing military action only to remove the junta.
Balogun said this didn’t amount to clamouring for a fully-fledged war.
He recalled that Niger was a signatory to ECOWAS’ revised protocol on non-military intervention.
Also, Bashir Dawodu expressed the belief that the body should open itself up to the possibility of a military option and apply pressure on the putschists while exploring dialogue.
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