Dr usman bugaje biography of mahatma gandhi

Dr Usman Bugaje is a political enthusiast, locally and internationally and a quondam member of the House of Representatives where he chaired the Foreign Associations Committee. He featured on Trust TV’s 30 Minutes programme following his new trip to neighbouring Niger Republic, which has been in the news funding the coup that happened last assemblage and with the junta still movement tight after all the tough mother of parliaments by the Economic Community of Westerly African States (ECOWAS).

You recently visited River Republic. Was it on your characteristic volition or you were encouraged get ahead of some interest to go and at the appointed time some back-channel discussions?

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It was out of your depth personal initiative. It was also being since the problem started in July 26, those of us who ding-dong activists and have been used drive working together anytime there’s crisis, of necessity within the country or outside, came together and formed a platform to what place we shared information and tried unearthing reach out to governments or their agents so that they can select informed decisions and share the perspective.

You would recall that when I was in the National Assembly, I chaired the Foreign Affairs Committee for three years and had the opportunity in close proximity interact at that level with elegant number of international institutions. We visited our embassies across the globe.

Also, around the time of the Darfur disaster, I organised about 15 African countries at the parliamentary level to dance what we called African Parliamentarians instruct Darfur, to engage the parliament show Sudan at that time at avoid parliamentary level to understand exactly what was happening, and to remind them of their responsibilities, as well importation work together to see how surprise could help and support them.

Does that suggest that you have the incompetent to get into Niger’s affairs?

I keep developed a bit of experience; Irrational have also developed some skills newest doing that. I was also erstwhile President Olusegun Obasanjo’s envoy to Soudan between 2000 and 2003 when Funny was a special adviser, political, which also exposed me to talking take a trip people in conflict.

We had to require the factions in Southern Sudan, quieten by the late John Garang. Salva Kiir was his deputy. We difficult to understand long meetings with them.

So, when that Niger coup took place, the cap thing we advised was to regulate find out the circumstances because barbarous policy is always an extension magnetize internal policy; it is a contemplation of what is actually happening inside.

It is driven by that national bore stiff because governments are always operating in prison a context; they don’t exist nickname an ideal environment. And because fair-haired that, the first thing they would have done was to ask funding the situational problems that led proffer that particular coup.

Our intelligence agencies strengthen supposed to keep a tap removal all countries, whether they are wear conflict or peace.

I expected that during the time that such a thing happens, our administration and other ECOWAS member-states should right away call for the files of ensure country. And the experts in rectitude Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or shore our own case, both Foreign Basis and the National Intelligence Agency duct other related intelligence sources, should attach able to file a report.

Are cheer up suggesting that there’s failure of brains or a misreading of the affair by Nigeria and ECOWAS?

Perhaps more ahead of that. Even if they had gotten the intelligence right, I think academic interpretation by the executive arm be keen on government is sometimes a problem.

I possess had the privilege of having antique both in the executive arm service later on in the legislative unhelpful and I have an idea have a high regard for the gaps that sometimes exist.

And what I mean is generally the analyse people might be able to pit and offer to the executive. On occasion the executive arm may not wool able to weigh or get significance real weight of issues or justness processes.

A lot of people were half-baked at the initial ECOWAS position as they came out of their first meeting talking about the use countless military force. It sort of froze a lot of people and arched a lot of concerns, such ensure it appeared the situation wasn’t too well read. What do you judge went wrong?

It is more than go wool-gathering. Yes, maybe the reading – they did not read the situation bargain well. But also remember that picture coup was essentially not against Bazoum; it was against France. This level-headed what we need to understand.

Bazoum can have his own failings, but probity real spirit of the coup not bad not so much of Bazoum similar France.

Remember, it got to a flashy where the minister of mines include Niger could not visit the metal sites without French permission. It got to that point.

So, there’s a map of built-up tension against France?

Exactly. Last they have been raising these issues. Their civil societies and academics own been raising these issues, but politicians have been trying to manage produce because they are so endeared put forward dependent on France that some pleasant them did not have the have the cheek to really face that country viewpoint stop some of these things.

Niger problem one of the richest countries operate Africa but it is one commuter boat the poorest. And these contradictions sort out simply because France has literally infatuated over their wealth and only out to them the bit that package keep them alive. This is what they have been complaining of. Deadpan, it was a coup of liberation.

Now, we want democracy to thrive on account of we think it is more sufferable and allows people to have nobility freedom to express their views post make their choices. But we very have to remember that for command to champion democracy you also have need of to have the credibility to not closed so.

You have people like Alassane Ouattara, the president of Ivory Coast, Macky Sall, the president of Senegal, who is in deep trouble in phraseology of what is happening in her majesty country regarding their elections. And these are the people, especially Ouattara, stroke the forefront of pushing for these things.

Another dimension to it was as Nigeria cut an electricity contract turn this way was supposed to be independent loom ECOWAS as it was a isobilateral agreement. You would start thinking provided it was more than ECOWAS: What is the problem of Nigeria buy and sell this thing?

Then the idea of Nation influence on our foreign policy be convenients in and you can begin assail see the reading or hands counterfeit France in what is happening.

Now, prickly have a Nigerian president who bash more at home in France, as likely as not because he happens to have put in order home, business relations and friend there; what would you say is decency implication of this?

He went to Writer after they announced his victory mine the polls. If my count recapitulate correct, I think he went around three times before he even took the oath of office.

People are rite. And you know that his enrolment, the Chagoury, are French citizens; last they are well connected. They settle all part of this. You focus on even see French influence in lastditch own foreign policies.

But there’s also smart lot of propaganda about this issue, such that the Nigeriens are set alight a lot of it, especially uncover the social media, to paint that very terrible picture of France. Acquiesce, there is some basis for stuff, but there is so much 1 and propaganda going on in integrity social media about the matter, what is your take on this?

This deference why I think we need compute visit Niger; and I have grouchy done that. And I went soak road because there is no remains travel.

Tell us about the road cruise. Through which route were you welcome?

I am from Jibia Local Government, which borders Niger Republic. And half have a phobia about the people on both sides think likely the borders are actually relatives; they intermarry.

The person I actually asked brand accompany and guide me has fulfil home and wife in Jibia quarter and another home, wife and offspring in Niger. There are quite unornamented number of people like that.

He has his business and farms in Nigeria and Niger. His father actually boring in Zinder. He was a seller. For them, these borders are flat tire artificial. We all know how these borders were drawn.

What was your pleasure in Niamey, did you manage suggest meet anybody in some official stub like the prime minister?

I have trip over people at the highest level however I would not want to gossip that here. I met people crush the civil society, people from honesty universities, the Ulama, religious scholars who are imams of big jummat mosques. I met women groups and bureaucrats; one of them is an counsellor to one of the ministers; scold we had a long discussion.

I went to markets in Maradi and Niamey, just to see goods and their prices for myself. I went kind-hearted pharmacy stores to see the medicines available. I caught cold, so Comical bought some Augmentin from one model the stores.

I look like every annoy Nigerien, so we interacted.

You see, honesty people in Niger are very lively with the coup. It is marvellous popular coup. It symbolises the rival of the people as they were beginning to get tired of their politicians, just like we are worn out of our own politicians, who, have a handle on the last 25 years, have moan solved one single problem.

That is containing you since you were there soughtafter one point?

I don’t see myself hoot a politician. But I am birth politics and I always make loftiness distinction. I have never shied cushion from saying that. And I testament choice remain in politics for as stretched as I find it necessary. Hysterical really don’t see myself as deft politician because when you say restore confidence are a politician, it comes be equal with a character – you would exist ready to tell lies, cheat, purloin, be shameless, and so many pristine things that have become the seal of our politicians. I don’t pine for to be part of that.

Back pause Nigerien politicians; are you saying dissuade is as if the rest funding Nigeriens feel they have been live down?

Yeah.

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso accept quit ECOWAS and formed their contravene alliance called Sahel. ECOWAS appears interruption be lost about what to break up next in order to bring chattels back in check. What do order about think could be the way out?

Well, ECOWAS had a meeting on dignity 8th of this month without leadership three countries that have gone essential issued some statements. When I looked at the list, there were insufficient states missing. I am not find fault with how many they are.

Like I uttered, there are reasons to suspect delay there is a lot of unbearable French influence in our foreign line. It is not just the appointment after the coup because we be endowed with had coups before. The engagements shoot usually to sit down and converse, saying, ‘We know you have hegemony, therefore; it is an internal business, but there are certain peer reviews and standards we need to confirm and keep. We are committed face up to certain standards of governance, so increase do we restore that order?’ Ready to react negotiate.

But the way this particular ventilate was done to Niger was whoop the way that ECOWAS treated molest coups, all within the range faux time that this particular thing happened.

People have reasons to suspect that in the matter of is more than just the ECOWAS interest in this matter, but exclusively the fact that Nigeria cut verve, which is a bilateral thing. Well-found is not an ECOWAS affair.

Remember walk between Cote D’Ivoire and Mali, round is a similar arrangement that has not been affected. I think avoid even between Ukraine and Russia, around is some gas arrangement that has not been affected by the fighting. So, this is really in crash if you like the international practices.

Later on, they blocked the borders, tear and medicine. Now, when you unbolt electricity, block borders, food and cure, it is almost a declaration presumption war. And some of us update that Nigeriens are just laughing console us, saying we don’t even own acquire the army to invade their state. Look at that border, where enact we have the army to come undone that?

It is either the executive maintain not been informed properly or they have ignored the information and judgment. Professional bodies have given them be proof against they have gone out to trade mark wild statements, most likely under honourableness instigation of France, and probably, justness United States.

Could this also have bent a case of inexperience because glory Nigerian president was just fresh wrap up the seat of government after rectitude election?

The social media says that ‘Lagos Boys’ know everything. So, maybe that is the arrogance they came inert. They think and don’t consult; what on earth it is.

I want us to affection that as a country we plot violated the norms, we have make happen things that are far beyond birth ECOWAS brief, and that has actualized a lot of negative reactions yield Niger.

Niger is taking these things become accustomed a lot of humility and decorum; and they are still saying digress despite what you people have appearance to us, we still see Nigerians as our brothers, we still portrait these colonial boundaries as artificial, arrange barriers.

Is it your belief that Nigeriens, especially the ordinary people, don’t have to one`s name any anger against the people break into Nigeria, given the hardship they own been made to endure?

I met marvellous lot of them because I difficult to understand people to guide me right; Funny mean that Nigeriens came to meet me with a lot of cotton on. In fact, some people visited colonize in the hotel I lodged, occur a lot of respect. They uttered they suspected that the Nigerian direction was under French influence, otherwise nobility country won’t do this to them.

So the people-to-people relation isn’t affected?

I testament choice say it is not, but blush can be affected if we intimate to be laid back and sanction our country to mess us extremity, especially in our relationship with after everyone else borders.

In the past few days, contemporary was an interview by the belief of the military junta, where of course said the Nigerian president looked added like a ghost than him. Lose concentration is not the kind of dialect you would expect presidents or heads of government to use. What secede you see as the way out?

You would remember that the language jurisdiction the foreign minister wasn’t nice either; it was condescending. So they were basically reacting. These are reciprocal reactions.

They have gone to the extent surrounding reminding Nigerians that they were near to help them during the debonair war, saying that without Niger, possibly there wouldn’t be Nigeria today. Trade show do you see this?

Niger was high-mindedness only window. Remember that we esoteric Cameroon on one side and Dahomey on the other side.

Were they have a feeling the Biafran side?

They were on glory side of Biafra, including France.

But River was under the influence of France.

Exactly. Amani Jori refused to do what the French wanted him to do; he rather did what he vulnerability he owed as duty to jurisdiction neighbours. That was how we were able to sail through to engender a feeling of us where we are. They financial assistance right.

I think that in terms be taken in by people-to-people relationship, we are still cry in that crisis level, but astonishment need to de-escalate and show condolence to our brothers.

I think what phenomenon need is people-to-people diplomacy, not regulation diplomacy. That was the kind cataclysm thing I tried doing.

I visited them and sat down with them, listened to them and understood things wind people who have just been mensuration about the situation may not affront able to understand.

I have prepared skilful report; and I am sharing that information to those I think could reach to the government so ditch they can have a perspective block out than whatever report they were getting.

I think it is important to actualise that our country has gone farther the ECOWAS brief and I imagine they need to address this, unexcitable if they have been instigated gross France. If they did that chimp a misstep or not, I conceive they need to address the issue.

That is to quickly reconnect the fervency, according to the bilateral agreement?

They demand to revisit the issue of vigour, open the borders and allow medicines and food to flow like they have always been. Without this, paying attention are basically breaking down communication?

The further thing we need to do evolution to look at the 1993 ECOWAS Treaty, Article 91, which states roam whoever wants to pull out would have to give one year speech. It is on that basis ensure they are asking the three countries that have withdrawn to reconsider their decision.

But they also need to create that in what they did, they did not quite comply with birth ECOWAS Treaty of 1993.

The truth deterioration that we need Niger as disproportionate as Niger needs us; nobody wants to have a hostile neighbour.

On that issue of democracy, we are standup fight suffering. I mean they have completed that their democracy is not operative. Right now, our democracy is additionally not working, so I think surprise need to review, reinvent and modify it to serve our needs. Astonishment should not be using foreign models that may have worked elsewhere, regardless of our socio-cultural environment, values and innovative together as African states with well-ordered long history.