The Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia (EFFL) has condemned the desires of ECOWAS and its Western Allies for military intervention in Niger.
By Willie N. Tokpah, [email protected]
EFFL said it believes in the tendency of democracy, as such, the restoration of democracy should never be misused in the context of what is happening in Niger.
“We strongly believe that any military intervention at the moment in Niger would be catastrophic in totality for the region,” EFFL noted in a communication on Tuesday, August 8
“Best to our knowledge is the fact that ECOWAS has become a shameless reactionary regional organization managed by corrupt political elites in the region without any new ideas.”
The opposition political faction noted that the regional body has increasingly become unnecessary in the context of providing regional leadership, since its once cherished core values of promoting good governance with emphasis on the rule of law and regional economic growth and integration have in recent years taken nosedive, by becoming “Presidents’ club pageantry.”
Undoubtedly, EFFL said ECOWAS is the source of all the leadership misconducts in the region by the body’s “reactionary posture” and should never be considered a progressive regional force for good.
The EFFL added that under the watch of ECOWAS, corruption has become a way of life by governments, thereby denying their citizens better education, healthcare, and job creation, while ECOWAS citizens are dying each day in the Atlantic Ocean in pursuit of better opportunities in the Western world.
“As we speak, dozens have gone missing after a migrant boat sank off the Italian coast. What has been the progressive position of ECOWAS?” the group opined.
“Elections in the region are stolen by ruling governments while others are allotting unto themselves unlimited terms in the presence of ECOWAS without any position because ruling parties usually provide kickbacks to their so-called representatives in the name of former Heads of State who are usually sent to monitor elections in the region. Where is ECOWAS with the single currency regime intended to promote free trade and economic growth within the region?
When you steal election results and take unconstitutional additional terms, it’s a coup d’état as well, and has ECOWAS ever reinforced any position on a ruling party to demand a re-conduct of questionable elections in the region?”
Therefore, EFFL insists that mediation efforts should continue with the military leaders in Niger and not any form of grandstanding by the use of the foreign military intervention.
They said the region has become vulnerable to military actions because of terrible leadership on the part of governments in power and that to stop these military leaders from seizing power in an undemocratic way, sitting Presidents must conform to the tenets of good governance.
EFFL is further nonplused over while
region is blessed with natural resources but the best places for medical checkups or treatments for governmental officials are in the Diaspora when these fall the poor working class can’t afford medical bills they countries are left to die daily in hospitals that are not given proper care.
The group further claimed that President George Weah has weakened the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and violated the Laws of Liberia and ECOWAS has done nothing to keep the President in check.
It said, that these actions are signals that lead to military actions, as such, the “neo-colonial tactics” by Western Allies in controlling ECOWAS for military intervention to promote their selfish interest should not be supported in Niger.
EFFL is further demanding ECOWAS to withdraw any form of military intervention supported by the West, from Niger and continue the initial mediation efforts with the timetable provided to the military leaders for smooth transition in returning the country to democratic rule.
Going forward, EFFL has expressed fear over what it calls the most likelihood of the elections to be stolen by the ruling establishment if care is not taken.
“However, any form of neo-colonialism by Western Allies in the region will be resisted by the growing radical and Pan Africanist organizations in the region,” the communication signed by EFFL Commander-in-Chief Emmanuel Gonqueh maintained.
Meanwhile, EFFL has urged ECOWAS to exercise self-examination and reflect on its founding manifesto, to and desist from being a puppet of colonial powers.