Niger coup: Arewa CSOs fault leaders for disrespect to citizens’ right, rule of law

The recent coup in the Niger Republic has been strongly opposed by Arewa Civil Society Organizations, or CSOs.

They complained that the situation of poverty and underdevelopment in West Africa may be traced back to the coup.

Adamu Aminu Musa, the groups’ chairman, made a statement in which he strongly denounced the coup and called for the protection of the country’s constitution, the rule of law, and the basic rights of its residents as a means of preventing similar events in the future.

In it, they added, “We believe a violation of citizens’ rights, disrespect for the rule of law, and not abiding by the constitution are responsible for bad governance and worsening insecurity, which leads to rise in frequent coups.”

One cannot reject court orders and then demand that others obey the constitution, the statement continued, warning that such behavior is harmful to a democratic society.

The statement lamented that certain persons in Nigeria have consistently disregarded court orders because they believe themselves to be beyond the law.

Before speaking out against events in other countries, the organisations urged ECOWAS leaders to look inward and address the undemocratic principles at play.

It urged the rest of the world to take note of the leaders’ flagrant disregard for the rule of law and their habitual manipulation of the constitution for their own ends.