Nigeria must reclaim its leadership position in ECOWAS, but this requires putting its own house in order first.
For decades, Nigeria held the mantle of the ‘Giant of Africa,’ serving as the driving force behind West African regional integration and cooperation efforts. It played a crucial role in successful ECOWAS interventions, bringing stability to troubled nations like Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Gambia, with strong Nigerian leadership often credited for these achievements.
However, recent events have cast a shadow on Nigeria’s leadership within ECOWAS. The organization’s response to coups in Guinea, Mali, and Burkina Faso in 2021 and 2022 drew criticism as negotiations to restore civilian rule faltered, leading to suspensions of these countries’ memberships. Observers believe that the absence of Nigerian leadership under the Buhari-led administration contributed to these failures.
Currently, reports indicate that ECOWAS, under the leadership of Nigeria, is thinking about sending ECOMOG to Niger to restore democracy—a move that reeks of absurdity and hypocrisy. It is disheartening to witness some leaders within ECOWAS advocating for the very democracy they undermined in their own country during past elections.
While Niger’s cooperation in the fight against Boko Haram and other insurgent groups in the region is essential, a forceful military intervention risks jeopardizing these efforts. With Nigeria facing its own internal security challenges, allocating resources to an external military operation is both reckless and counterproductive.
The consequence of Nigeria’s diminished leadership is evident within ECOWAS itself. The organization, once united, now finds itself divided and lacking a charismatic guiding voice. As ECOWAS leaders in Abuja urge the Nigerien Military Junta to relinquish power, Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso have united in their support for Niger, highlighting the fragmented state of the subregional group.
The warning from Mali and Burkina Faso against imposing unconstitutional sanctions on Niger’s people should serve as a wake-up call for ECOWAS to adopt a more strategic and diplomatic approach. Any military intervention could escalate the crisis, potentially leading to a regional conflict.
Nigeria must reclaim its leadership position in ECOWAS, but this requires putting its own house in order first.
It is hypocritical to offer help to Niger in restoring democracy while Nigeria’s own democratic institutions face threats and challenges. Instead of interfering militarily, Nigeria should focus on addressing its internal security concerns.
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The days when Nigeria’s actions significantly impacted its neighbours are gone, and it is time to tread with caution and foresight. Force should be the last resort, and a comprehensive approach is needed to address the crisis holistically through diplomacy and peaceful resolutions. Let us not forget that two wrongs can never make a right.
Nigeria’s leadership in ECOWAS is waning, and the organization must recognize the consequences of forceful intervention in Niger. True leadership requires introspection and the rectification of internal challenges before attempting to meddle in the affairs of others. Only by embracing diplomacy and collaboration can ECOWAS regain its strength and serve as a beacon of stability and progress in the West African region.