Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) yesterday asked the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to rescind its decision to intervene militarily in resolving the impasse in Niger Republic.
It implored ECOWAS to critically look at the bigger picture with a view to determine what value the planned military intervention will add to the region politically and economically.
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The group made its position known in a statement signed by its Amira, Rafiah Sanni and the national public relations officer, Maimuna Momodu.
“ECOWAS must realise that border closure and electricity cuts adversely affect livelihoods by deepening poverty among ordinary citizens of Niger Republic, a country that ranks seventh in global poverty.
“Sanctions will also affect the economies of the neighbouring countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, Benin Republic, and Nigeria). The seven northern states in Nigeria that share borders with Niger Republic (Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Yobe, and Borno) are already dislocated either by the ravages of Boko Haram, banditry or kidnappings will be further denied livelihoods arising from sanctions.
“FOMWAN calls for the removal of the sanctions to reduce the sufferings of the people. Sanctions at this stage definitely have no value-addition,” the group stated.
It expressed concern that women and children are most likely to bear the brunt of the political actions of the ECOWAS states, noting that 11.2 million people are already displaced in West and Central African Republic.
The group said ECOWAS needed to arrest this trend as a regional body because it affects the education of children and exposes women and girls to sexual exploitation and other forms of violence.
It added:” Promoting more displacements of citizens within the West African sub-region is definitely a major setback for our development stride. Military intervention should not be an option for ECOWAS, rather we advocate for dialogue. This is because the vagaries of wars and social unrest create unpredictable situations whose direction and end, we may not know. ECOWAS needs to be careful not to pitch her forces against superior gang-ups of other forces who are resolved to support Niger in the event of a military intervention.
“It is also pertinent at this juncture for ECOWAS to interrogate the recurrence of military coups in West Africa, with the apparent overwhelming support of the populace. To entrench democracy in the sub-region, ECOWAS countries must be seen to walk the talk by making democracy the attractive option for ordinary people, a government of the people, by the people, for the people.”