Bola Tinubu, the president of Nigeria, is under intense pressure because he threatened to use military force to put an end to the coup in neighboring Niger.
Despite the Senate being under the authority of Tinubu’s party, local media reports that there was substantial opposition to military action at a session on Saturday.
However, there has also been widespread national opposition of the threat of war. This was especially true among MPs from states near the more than 1,500km (930 mile) long border with Niger.
The West African regional bloc, ECOWAS gave the junta until Sunday to relinquish power or face potential military action.
Since Tinubu currently serves as ECOWAS chairman and Nigeria is its most powerful member, the choice was widely regarded as being his.
Despite the fact that the junta disregarded the ultimatum, ECOWAS did not send troops right away in response. Many Nigerians, who seek a diplomatic solution to the problem, were relieved to hear this.
Given that Nigeria and other nations must obtain parliamentary approval before sending the military, some people dispute whether a seven-day timetable was reasonable.
Many people are also horrified that President Tinubu’s instructions to cut off electricity to Niger resulted in blackouts in Niger’s capital city of Niamey and other areas.
Critics assert that this violates a deal that allowed Nigeria to construct a dam on the River Niger, while Tinubu’s supporters assert that the power outages are intended to put pressure on the junta to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum’s rule without resorting to force.
Strong linkages exist between Nigeria and Niger on the racial, economic, and cultural levels, and any military action against Niger would have an impact on northern Nigeria, which already faces significant security issues.
According to a powerful group of Muslim clerics in northern Nigeria, Tinubu should not “rush into an avoidable conflict with a neighbor at the behest of global politics,”
Currently, Tinubu is the center of attention. He has been the most outspoken in denouncing military coups in West Africa and claimed last month that ECOWAS cannot consist of “toothless bulldogs.”
“We must be adamantly pro-democracy. Without democracy, there can be no government, freedom, or rule of law. Soon after assuming control of the regional organization, Tinubu remarked, “We won’t accept coup after coup in West Africa again.
According to the constitution of Nigeria, the National Assembly, which is made up of both the upper and lower chambers of parliament, must provide its consent before the president can send out troops.
Given the opposition Tinubu is up against, it is uncertain whether he will win their support.