By: Olayinka Kuti
Finally, the jungle quickly matured in Niger simply because the junta miscalculated, they overestimated their power, their strength and capacity to swallow fish bone without choking.
You cannot go against Nigeria or openly disrespect Nigeria and get away with it, not in Afrin and definitely not in West Africa.
ALSO READ: Nigeria’s Economy is Collapsing Under Tinubu, SEE Dollar Naira Exchange Rate Today
It didn’t take much for Nigeria to slap the junta with crippling sanctions, a border blockade, and a no-fly zone.
Niger depends on big brother Nigeria for economic relevance and we always help and stand by them, but the foolish junta threw all that away when in fact they need supplies that they can no longer get, they need money and aid that they can no longer get, they need food and fuel to run the country and even fight on the battlefield. Imagine landlocked and closed in from all sides, land and in the air with nothing going in, no fuel, no food, no support, nothing.
They are feeling isolated, even by the countries they thought were on their side are not sticking their neck out, including Russia because they all know very well that this is Nigerian’s show and play and there’s nothing in it for them to anger and go against powerful Nigeria over Niger.
The first sign of surrender was yesterday when they released the president, they let him go unsolicited, and they walk him out with no guns or any physical threat, which was letting the world know that it was all over.
Obviously, the junta saw the writing on the wall and quickly humbled themselves.
A leader must always show strength and always lead and when you leave the war option on the table, they know you are serious.
The next step is the Nigerien peace delegation flying to Abuja to mend fences and relationship with Nigeria.
Nigeria won without firing a bullet.
Kuti writes from Lagos
