JAF also warned against replacing one imperialist master with another one as the warm embrace of Vladimir Putin-led Russia by a section of Nigerien people indicates.
Agroup, the Joint Action Front (JAF) has called for mass actions against the proposed move by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to resort to military intervention in Niger if diplomacy fails.
JAF described the planned military intervention in Niger Republic as a proxy war to be launched on behalf of the French and United States imperialism who are "desperate to continue the control and the pillage of the resources of the country".
This is contained in a statement jointly signed on Tuesday by Dr. Dipo Fashina, JAF Chairperson and Comrade Abiodun Aremu, JAF Secretary, in which the group declared its support for the growing mass protest and rejection of French imperialism in Niger and other West African countries.
The group asserted that the imposition of economic sanctions on Niger Republic is evidence that Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu and ECOWAS leaders do not care about the ordinary people of Niger who are the worst hit.
JAF also warned against replacing one imperialist master with another one as the warm embrace of Vladimir Putin-led Russia by a section of Nigerien people indicates.
The statement reads in part, "The Joint Action Front (JAF) condemns the plan of the ECOWAS led by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to launch a military intervention in Niger Republic and also the economic sanctions including power cut and border closures that have been callously imposed on the country without care.
"We call on trade unions, working people and youth in Nigeria and West Africa to reject the planned war and the economic sanctions with a series of mass actions.
"The working masses and youth should demand, instead of wasting Nigeria’s resources on war against Niger, the Tinubu government should restore subsidy and reverse the petrol price to the old rate of N195 per liter. We also demand adequate funding of public education and a reversal of the current hike in school fees. We also demand the payment of a decent minimum wage that matches the rate of inflation.
"While we unequivocally condemn the opportunistic coup in Niger which has nothing to do with the genuine interests of ordinary Nigeriens, we strongly hold that it is the responsibility of the people of Niger to determine their own government, not an external force.
"Therefore, we support any pro-democracy movement in Niger that calls and fights for the rights of the masses of Niger to democratically choose their leaders.
"We strongly hold that it is sheer hypocrisy and an insult from the West African leaders who emerged through fraudulent electoral process or the manipulation of the constitution as it is the case with most leaders of ECOWAS to talk about restoring a so-called democratic government in a foreign country.
"The imposition of the economic sanctions is evidence that Tinubu and ECOWAS leaders do not care about the ordinary people of Niger who are the worst hit. Indeed, as it is already an open secret, we strongly believe the planned military intervention is a proxy war to be launched on behalf of the French and US imperialism who are desperate to continue the control and the pillage of the resources of Niger.
"We, therefore, support the growing mass protest and rejection of French imperialism in Niger and other West African countries. But we would like to warn against replacing one imperialist master with another one as the warm embrace of Putin-led Russia by a section of Nigerien people indicate.
"Rather, we call on the working movement and youth of Niger to build an independent mass movement that fights for a working people government, the nationalization of the resources of the country under the democratic control of the people themselves so that the resources can be used for the benefit of the vast majority, not a few and call for the solidarity of working class internationally including in France, US, Russia, etc."
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