Niger Regime Change: Any coup that lasts 24 hours has come to stay – Dr Gimba (Video)
Speaking about the recent regime change in the Republic of Niger, Dr Hassan Gimba, the publisher and chief executive officer of Neptune Network Nigeria Ltd, publishers of Neptune Prime English and Hausa online newspapers has opined that any coup that lasts for 24 hours has come to stay.
He said this in an interview he granted the Hausa Service of Radio France International (RFI) and monitored in Abuja on Monday. Gimba, a current affairs analyst, who is also a regular Monday columnist for Blueprint and New Nigerian newspapers and several other online publications, argued that…
In a revealing interview with RFI Hausa, Dr Gimba offers compelling insights into the swift actions of the military government, the regional and international response, and the delicate balance between peace and conflict.
Join us in this exploration of his perspectives on the coup’s impact and the challenging path towards restoring democracy in Niger.
RFI: The West African group was sent to restore peace, yet they failed in their assignment. What’s your take?
Dr Hassan Gimba: They need to speak out because the military government is already in place. We must now focus on restoring normalcy. If movement restrictions persist, it will be the grassroots citizens who suffer, not the government and top officials.
RFI: The United Nations ECOWAS is actively advocating for the military government to restore peace. What are your thoughts? Are their intentions pure?
Dr Hassan Gimba: It’s hard to determine if their intentions are good or bad, but the citizens of Niger have expressed their desires. ECOWAS must tread carefully in the best interest of the masses, as they will bear the consequences of any decision made.
Listen to the full interview here:
RFI: In the current reconciliation situation, the commander-in-chief is planning to form a temporary government that will rule for three years. Do you see this as a positive step?
Dr Hassan Gimba: Three years of military rule? Three years under military rule feels like a short time. In Africa, we’ve witnessed military governments lasting for more than a decade. Even within ECOWAS, some leaders have remained in power for 20 or even 30 years. We need to be cautious in our approach to this issue to prevent conflict.
RFI: You mentioned the word “war,” which ECOWAS claims is being planned. Is this a genuine concern?
Dr Hassan Gimba: Well, war is like a journey; you can plan for it, but you can’t predict the outcome. Consider Nigeria, where we’re grappling with insecurity issues. In the south, some seek to form their republic, while the North-East is in a state of revolution, citing Jihad. In the North-West, rampant kidnappings persist, with ties to Boko Haram. With these unresolved issues, allowing room for war would lead us down a destructive path.
RFI: How can the democratic system in Niger be restored if needed, without causing disruption?
Dr Hassan Gimba: We should allow the current military government to take the lead.
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