Niger’s military weeks ago took over the government with the West African bloc on several occasions expressing its readiness for military action if other measures to restore democracy in the country fail.
But in a Tuesday tweet, El-Rufai warned ECOWAS – led by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu – against the war in Niger Republic, saying both countries are “brothers”
TUESDAY THOUGHT: As ECOWAS beats the drums of war, I recall the 1970s rock classic by Dire Straits – ‘Brothers in Arms’, because a war within our subregion is a war between brothers,” he wrote on X, formerly called Twitter.
“Indeed, the people of Niger Republic are one and the same with those living in Northern Nigeria. Let us bend therefore over backwards to avoid this civil war between brothers.
And so for this bright Tuesday, please enjoy this classic and reflect on the equally timeless lyrics. Music is something to enjoy, but being so overwhelmed with public affairs in the last 10 years, I have lost valuable pleasurable moments. Time to catch up on lost time. Enjoy!! Life is too short not too!!”
He then went on post the lyrics of Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits to further buttress his point.
The development comes days after the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain posted a cryptic message on the social media platform.
El-Rufai’s recent remarks followed his non-confirmation as a minister with the Senate failing to clear him over some “security reports”. While the former governor has reportedly withdrawn his interest from the ministerial post, analysts are divided over his non-clearance by the lawmakers.
He was Kaduna State’s governor between 2019 and 2023.