ECOWAS’ sledge hammer on Niger, Guinea
The effectiveness of the Niger Republic sanction has been questioned in view of its category. For instance, it does not have restriction on Travel bans, freezing of assets amongst other restrictions.However,Dr Idoku told Weekly Trust that the sanction on Niger could still be effective, because the word `sanction’ in itself, has an effect on how […]
The effectiveness of the Niger Republic sanction has been questioned in view of its category. For instance, it does not have restriction on Travel bans, freezing of assets amongst other restrictions.However,Dr Idoku told Weekly Trust that the sanction on Niger could still be effective, because the word `sanction’ in itself, has an effect on how other countries or the international community perceive and relate with the country in question. He said the image of Niger, being a poor state and a weak economy, would further suffer in the court of international public opinion. “Technically, I think it would affect them’’, but a crucial question is worth asking here. What if President Tandja’s political interest supersedes the image of the country? Like other past African leaders, past and present who view their selfish interests above that of the state, as in the case of Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe where the pariah status has been accepted, in such circumstances, the effect of ECOWAS sanction is unlikely to change the mentality and action of President Tandja.
The fear here is that, at such point, the ECOWAS sanction could be likened to be a weapon against the common person who has limited, if any alternatives. Thus, it could make Tandja to think that the sanction has limited effects since it is not economic. For a recalcitrant leader who is already 71 and in a country where government is almost the only source of livelihood, is it feasible for a rescind in decision?
It could also be recalled that not just ECOWAS alone, but both the African Union(A.U) and the European Union(E.U), a major donor to Niger Republic ,all urged a delay in order to revive the situation, but President Tandja, through one of his cohorts, affirmed his stand on the matter.
The interior minister, Albade Abouba, said the call to postpone the election is inappropriate. “You cannot ask people to go back on their words. Elections are not being held for President Tandja.’’
On the day of election, Tandja confirmed his decision personally by saying, “I wish that the election will be good for Niger, and that the voting will pass off smoothly. I urge the deputies to be true patriots’’
President Tandja’s referendum to change the constitution, prolonging his mandate by three years and then opening the way to further elections in which he can contest was widely opposed within and outside his country. But he persisted on the agenda with impunity. According to his communication minister, Kassoum Moctar, “Nobody is going to punish us .The march towards building a dignified Niger is irreversible”. In this context, the government is trying to present itself as the savior of the people against perceived anti -progress of the country.
The implication here is that those who are expose to other sources of information and therefore able to exercise informed judgment, might dismiss the effect of such rhetoric’s as `nonsense’ .But they may also risks underestimating the effect of such crafty propaganda on the general population repeatedly bombarded with same messages and might end up believing that the government’s struggle is true, and in the interest of the entire country.