Last Wednesday, the delegation of the Nigerian Muslim leaders led by Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi was at the State House to consult with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the crisis in Niger Republic.

Speaking after the meeting, the spokesperson of the delegation who is also national leader of the Jama’atu Izalatul Bidi’ah wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Bala Lau, said the delegation pledged to find a lasting and peaceful solution in neighbouring Niger Republic.

He said, “We thank Allah that He gave us the opportunity to meet with Mr. President and the delegation of Ulamah from here in Nigeria met with Mr. President on the issue of Niger Republic. We want to find a lasting solution, we want peace and harmony to reign, not only in Nigeria, but in the sub-Saharan region and in globe as well .

“The Ulamah advised Mr. President that we want peace and reconciliation. If anything happens between you and your neighbour, the holy Quran commands you to reconcile, so we want reconciliation. That’s why we are here and our able leader and President accepted the offer that he wants us to intervene and to talk to our brothers in Niger Republic, the scholars also there on how we can come together and bring a lasting solution to this problem.”

Similarly, the national missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdurrahaman Ahmed, confirmed that the president accepted their offer to mediate in the Niger imbroglio, adding that the mediation will start as soon as possible.

Ahmed said that Tinubu also accepted for them to speak with the military junta in Niger to give concession in order to find a common ground between it and ECOWAS.

“Other than that, the president deplored coup d’état in the Sahel region, and as a democrat himself, said he will do everything to ensure that there is democracy, justice, freedom and peace in the sub-region.

“We as Ulamah are also committed to peace and justice, and the president will be enabling the Ulamah to mediate as it is appropriate.

“So this is why we’re here. And it is a mission accomplished, because the President responded positively and in turn he has given us an assignment to also mediate to ensure reconciliation between the warring factions in Niger Republic.’’

Indeed, the Ulamah are emploring the instruction in the Quranic verse cited above to undertake this sub-regional assignment that has attracted unanimity of voices for diplomacy, dialogue to resolve the crisis.

It is in this vein that the stand of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) becomes noteworthy.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III-led NSCIA was unequivocal opposing military interventions or economic sections against the Niger’s military leaders.

The Deputy Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Prof. Salisu Shehu, in a statement, said the council was disturbed by the developments unfolding in the Niger following the coup. The NSCIA said the coup, which had attracted several reactions and different degrees of sanctions from nations and supranational institutions such as ECOWAS, has socio-economic negative implications for both Nigerians and Nigeriens especially as we share common history and borders.

“The council observes with dismay, that although the military junta in Niger has remained defiant, ECOWAS has just lately further imposed more stringent sanctions against it. But it is well known that such kinds of economic sanctions are counter-productive and eventually end in futility.

“It is the masses that do suffer the pains and difficulties of the sanctions while the junta that seizes power takes control of state resources and begins a life of indulgence. The Council therefore, calls on ECOWAS and in particular, the Nigerian Government to retrace their steps in this regard to avoid correcting wrong with another.”

The council said while Nigeria spearheaded the imposition and heaping of sanctions on Niger, it should be reminded of the thousands of Nigerian refugees to whom Niger provided succour and safe abode for several years now.

“While it is understandable that the leadership of both ECOWAS and Nigeria must preserve and protect democracy by discouraging forceful take-over of power through military coup d’état, the NSCIA strongly implores the Federal Government of Nigeria and by extension the leadership of ECOWAS to continue to tread the path of dialogue rather than resorting to violence.”

Even VIPs are also boosting the efforts to ensure that violence or war does not find a space in resolving the impasse.

The 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, recently met with the military leaders in Niger Republic.

The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria met the military leadership after the junta aborted a meeting with representatives of the African Union, the Economic Community of West Africa States and a top American diplomat.

A delegation raised by ECOWAS could not broker peace with the military rulers as they declined a meeting.

On Wednesday, footages of Sanusi, whose Tijjaniya sect has a large following in Niger Republic, dominated the media space.

Sanusi, who is the Khalifa of the sect in Nigeria, met the Junta leaders in company of the Sultan of Damagaran. Damagaran is the third largest city in the Republic of Niger.

It was gathered that Sanusi went to Niamey to open the door for negotiation with the junta.

“His Highness took the trip in his personal capacity but with the knowledge of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following his concerns about the impasse and the likely consequences it is already having on Nigeria/Niger relations and the citizens of the two countries,” a source had claimed.
On his return from Niamey, Sanusi, on Wednesday, visited President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He later revealed that he was well received by the Niger’s military leaders.

When asked whether he was in Niamey at the behest of the Federal Government, Sanusi responded: “No, I was not sent by the government. Government officials were aware I was going, but it was my personal initiative, using my personal contacts to get there, and I’ll continue to do my best. It’s my duty as a leader to do that.”

Sanusi said he was at the Villa “to brief him (Tinubu) on the details of my discussions with leaders of Niger. We’ll continue to do our best to bring the two parties together to improve understanding.

“This is the time for public diplomacy, it’s not a matter that we will leave to governments. All Nigerians and all Nigeriens need to be involved to find a solution that works for Africa, a solution that works for Niger, a solution that works for Nigeria and a solution that works for humanity.”

And interestingly, the interventions have begun to yield fruits going by the speech of President Tinubu during the opening of the extra-ordinary meeting of ECOWAS in Abuja yesterday.

Nigerian leader assured that the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government would employ an amicable solution to resolve the political crisis in Niger Republic. He said, “I trust that our delibration will be productive and fruitful, leading us to finding an amicable solution to the political crisis in Niger.”The communique that emerged at the end of the meeting substantially re-echoed this amicable approach to resolving the crisis.

It is hoped that the thrust of the Quranic verse (Chapter 49V9) will manifest soonest in the quest for amicable resolution of crisis in Niger Republic.

May the Almighty continue to guide our leaders aright.