I don’t want to be remembered for my many fights — Obaseki

By Wale Adedayo 

It is a tough call. And, for me, it is beyond restoration of democracy. Nigeria's economic prosperity depends on our forceful intervention. Many have been writing and talking about Uranium and the US, France being given a bloodied nose. Almost nobody is talking about the gas pipeline running from the Niger Delta through Niger Republic and Morocco to Europe.

Russia is certainly against the gas supply to Europe from Nigeria because the former Communist country is Europe's biggest supplier of gas. Sadly the war in Ukraine is making Europe turn to a beggar for gas, which we have in more than enough quantity.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari actually saw the future with the investment, which will be more than what we currently rake in from crude oil sales. If fully implemented, Nigeria should be more than okay, economically, in say, 10 years time. We'll have more than enough to spend.

But Buhari may not have envisaged Russian anger against us for the attempt to supply Europe with gas. Thus, an attempt by the Reds to topple the regime in Niamey and prop up a client administration. The Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) failed in this regard. The NIIA of old would have sent postulations to The Presidency about events that are likely to affect Nigeria internationally in the next 10 years. 

It is the same with the position of South Africa, which is being threatened by a Nigeria that is being woken up from a deep slumber with Tinubu's emergence as president. South Africa wants to remain on the top spot in Africa, quietly but deliberately encouraging all kinds of name-calling against Nigeria. Meanwhile, we still need to arrange something to replace MTN and DSTV in Nigeria, if Tinubu wants to get it right with the Alaimore country.

The Federal Ministry of Information need to wake up in enlightening Nigerians, directly or indirectly on what we are about to do in Niamey and the benefits for us as a country. And we are not being greedy. The US will shout protection of democracy in Iraq, Syria and Iran, when in actual fact they are only after crude oil. Ours do not have to follow the same pattern. Tell Naija people the truth. They will understand.

Niger Republic already has an easy passage to the sea through Nigeria. Buhari constructed an expressway from Nigeria to the place. They have access to electricity from here. And the pipeline also has loads of economic benefits for Nigeriens. This are apart from regular economic support which we have been offering them over the years.

Reconstructing Niger after a possible war should benefit our business community too. The noise from Mali and Burkina Faso should be ignored. The two countries are not up to one. They cannot even stand on their own without support. Russia cannot support them in any way. The mess they'll suffer from Russia will be raised to power two compared with what they've been dealt with by France.

Russia is hitting back at the West through Niger. But Nigeria also has interests in that country. The longest of our border is with Niamey. 'Bandits' and Boko Haram use Niger Republic as their bases. So, we can use a stone to kill two birds. We cannot be comfortable if a hostile Government remains on seat in Niamey. We need friendlies around us. That is the unwritten law in international relations.

From Okeliwo, this son of man is encouraging the Asiwaju of Nigeria to move into Niger and do the needful. This war will be different from that of Boko Haram because we'll have quality technology from the West to back us up. We can also leverage same for use at home. Good to go sir. Let's do it!