Ode for military liberators of Niger Republic

It is not often these days that military interventionists in the politics of nations are hailed for their action. But all military interventions cannot be cast in one and the same mode. They differ widely in their aims and objectives for intervening or interfering in the politics of nations. There are those who bring order, peace and progress or generally make society better, and there are those who come to plunder and make a mess of everything. For instance, the action of Oliver Cromwell, the 17th century English General who led the resistance that defeated King Charles 1 of England, culminating in the establishment of the structures of individual liberties and eventually democratic self-government in Britain cannot be likened to what is happening in Myanmar today, where the military rulers appear bent on uprooting a decent democratic civilian government for perhaps perpetual or lasting military dictatorship.

We know that the military is an important social group that is particularly susceptible to fascism. Professional soldiers tend to over-estimate the virtues of discipline and unity even in a well-established democracy. Where democracy is weak, this professional bias within the military becomes a political menace. This is exemplified by the attitude of the military in both Germany and Italy during the fascist era in those countries. Was it not the same thing with the Nigerian Military under President Muhammadu Buhari and his APC fascist regime in Nigeria? Our point is that usually the military would in the face of fascism either openly demonstrate its support for the fascist administration or maintain an attitude of benevolent neutrality.

But it must also be pointed out that the military could and do play a very leading part in removing fascist regimes where their level of performance and tyranny is unacceptable.

Indeed, once fascism or any form of dictatorship is established, the army remains the last bulwark of decency and legality with the force to challenge the establishment. This, at last, appears to be what is taking shape in Niger Republic today. Reports from that country indicate that her ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, recently overthrown by the Nigerien Military, had been a remorseless puppet of the French who had aided France’s neocolonialism of Niger. In this light, the ouster of Bazoum is yet another triumph over fascism in Africa, which should be supported by every right-thinking African and lovers of freedom worldwide.

According to the report, President Bazoum had repeatedly restrained the Nigerien Military from attacking the terrorist invaders tormenting that country, voicing his opinion that unless the approval of France was obtained nothing could be done. In fact, Bazoum had given the French a freehand in its monumental exploitation of Niger and its mineral wealth over the years, obviously in his appreciation and quest for continual French protection of his person and regime. To him therefore the plight of the Niger nation was of less importance than that of his person!

Indeed, the difference between what has happened in Niger Republic and Egypt is that the Egyptian Military under General Sisi nipped in the bud the fascistic alliance of then President Morsi with that country’s Moslem Brotherhood, while in Niger the Military had inadvertently allowed the lame Bazoum presidency mature and practically destroy the country before acting to uproot the regime; ditto for Nigeria where the Buhari-APC fascism was allowed to fester without the Nigerian Military raising a finger.

However, notwithstanding its needless delays and circumnavigation, the action of the Nigerien military deserves to be hailed and given support in much the same way General Sisi and Co were welcomed when they struck in Egypt, for their respective actions boil down to the same thing: a needful rescue of their different peoples from entrenched fascism and oppression.

The African continent and nation-states are under siege and the menace of their sons and daughters who happen to belong to the so-called political class. Aside from plundering the continent, our politicians are known to brazenly engage in all manner of electoral heist. They thereby trample on the will and wishes of the citizenry to impose themselves on the people and to create a queer form of democracy, which many Western leaders tend to or seem to regard as the real thing. But those of us who live in Africa and witness these electoral robberies know that it is such institutional coups that make for lifetime presidencies in Africa, fraudulent declaration of election results and manipulation of judicial processes and pronouncements. And because inter-ethnic and religious differences inhibit the mustering of consensus in Africa, and Nigeria especially, it is difficult for civil society to rise in unison to sack the illegitimate governments that emerge from these fraudulent processes and elections.

What then shall we do about these deficiencies in Africa? Accept the impositions and stew in a miserable existence? No, that is highly inadvisable! We must therefore encourage and support brave military officers who rise to the occasion to rid our parliaments and executive mansions of blighted politicians who engage in institutional coups, for these could actually be worse than military coups.

It is not surprising that the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under the prodding of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu plan to militarily attack Niger Republic and reinstate Bazoum, for in reality they are afraid of their own shadows! The action is totally self-serving; it is wrong and opposed to the direction the knowing peoples of the sub-region are pointing to, the citizenry of Niger Republic included. This is why we are constrained to observe that ECOWAS under Tinubu’s leadership is dancing a strange dance, with the music supplied from stranger quarters! This warmongering will not endure!

And what happens to the principle of ‘Non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations’ which the Western nations particularly adhere to, and to which our own governments in Africa studiously imbibe? Why is Mr President crying out louder than the bereaved? Why has he cut off electricity supply to Niger Republic as if he does not know about Nigeria’s obligations in the matter? This is an act of war being solely perpetrated by the Nigerian nation-state!

West African leaders should not go to war in the name of democracy they hardly believe in, for cheap popularity and self-preservation, and on behalf of neocolonialists that plunder Africa! And our military men and women must be encouraged to do the needful whenever irreverent politicians and judicial officers decide to take the nation for a ride, and without minding whose ox is gored and; conscious of the fact that only the truth can save Africa from its current deplorable political quagmire!!

As for the Western nations who have gone through the crucible (via Cromwell, et al) to get to where they are today; they should allow African states go through their own baptism of fire to even become nations and then pursue their own developmental objectives as well. Nobody is fooled by this vain hankering after democracy. It will not wash! If Western powers must engage in democracy wars, why don’t they start with China and countries like North Korea, Myanmar, etc.? But of course doing so will be the height of ethnocentrism!

Nwankwo can be reached on [email protected] Tel: 08033824248