The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by President Julius Bio of Sierra Leone, has remained silent on the escalating US-Nigeria tensions after President Donald Trump announced the designation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) and suggested possible military intervention.

Since Trump made the announcement, there have been reactions from members of the US Congress, many of whom had put pressure on him to designate Nigeria as a CPC over allegations that the government was complicit in a Christian genocide. President Bola Tinubu has, however, rejected Trump’s decision, but Trump doubled down on his earlier statement, when he insisted that the US would likely send in troops to wipe out the terrorists that have been operating in Nigeria for many years.

Despite the escalating tensions, the regional economic body has remained silent about the development. None of its official social media channels has mentioned anything about the issue or offered any word of support for Nigeria.

Reacting to the development, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) criticized President Tinubu’s leadership style, saying that Nigeria’s continental influence had declined and that ECOWAS had become fractured under his administration.

The party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated that smaller nations had lost respect for Nigeria as the country struggles with domestic crises, describing the government as ‘incompetent, narrow-minded and blindly arrogant.’

“Under President Tinubu, Nigeria has declined both as a continental and regional leader. Nothing underlines this decline more than the fracturing of ECOWAS under his watch. A region that once looked up to us for direction and leadership on issues of democratization and security now doesn’t think we matter anymore as smaller countries watch us fumble aimlessly with our own domestic crisis. These failures are not isolated. They are all connected, pointing to a government that is so incompetent, so narrow-minded and yet so blindly arrogant,” Abdullahi said.

Also reacting to the tension between the US and Nigeria, Abdullahi said: “We appreciate the American President and other world leaders for their concern about the security situation in our country. We will, however, urge that such concerns be translated into supporting Nigeria to grow her democracy and develop the capacity to solve its own problems. We believe that mobilizing armed troops or even a mere threat of doing so would do more harm than good and ultimately prove counterproductive to our democratic aspiration and to the long-term unity and stability of our country.”

On his part, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, said the recent pronouncement by the US government declaring Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) and indicating possible military action should give every well-meaning Nigerian serious concern.

He said there is no doubt that Nigeria is experiencing an unprecedented level of insecurity with attendant carnage and the most shocking loss of lives and property. Citing Amnesty International, which stated that over 10,000 people have been killed in Nigeria since May 2023, Obi said he had repeatedly lamented that the unwarranted and unprovoked killing of Nigerians is most condemnable, and all efforts must be made to bring it to a stop.

He said: “It is equally important to state that the terrible situation is significantly avoidable with competent leadership and governance. While the insecurity did not start with the present government, what is most unfortunate is the lack and absence of competence, commitment, prudent use of resources, patriotism and passion on the part of the APC-led government/leaders to effectively govern, galvanize and lead Nigeria where no one is unwarrantedly oppressed and killed, a nation where peace, truth and justice reign.

“As democracies, Nigeria and the US have long been strategic partners committed to regional peace and security. That relationship should not falter. The present situation calls for constructive diplomatic and any other plausible engagement by both nations aimed at addressing the prevailing and disturbing security concerns. Both countries must work in concert and expeditiously towards that purpose.” (The Sun)