AN OPEN LETTER TO NIGERIA ON PAX BURKINA, PAX NIGERIA, PAX AFRICANA:
Sir President Tinubu, the recent political stand-up between you and President Traore of Burkina Faso is a call for concern among African critical thinkers. I write to you on the principle of just war with the intention of letting you think about your thinking on going to war against Burkina Faso. All other definitions notwithstanding, I define war as a military solution to a political problem. It is this definition that I will use since your intention to go to war is purely political as you have overtly shown yourself a allied to France, which is political adversely of Burkina Faso. Before declaring war, Sir, think along these principles of just war theory that have been enunciated by moral philosophers down the ages. 1. THE DANGER MUST BE REAL AND NOT IMAGINARY. If you think that in keeping those Nigerian hostages and the aircraft hostage, Burkina is a real danger to Nigeria’s sovereignty, then you are morally justified to go to war. But to my judgment, I do not see the detaining of those Nigerian soldiers as a real threat to Nigeria.2.THE WAR MUST BE DECLARED TO SAFEGUARD THE COMMON GOOD. Your supporters will convince you to go to war on the pretext that the Survival of Nigeria as a nation is being jeopardized by the holding of the plane and personnel. So war is justified. I differ because there is no Common Good of Nigeria at stake. Instead, there is a divided position among Nigerians about you going to war. Many Nigerians are against the war, so your going to war will not be for the common good. 3. WHEN DIPLOMACY HAS FAILED. War should be declared only after all peaceful attempts at solving the problem have failed. Those urging you to go to war against Burkina do not know that there is strength in peaceful negotiations. Let the Mill of DIPLOMACY grind first. 4. THE WAR MUST BE FOUGHT ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPLE OF LEGITIMATE SELF DEFENSE.it obvious that your government and yourself are the belligerent offensive, while Burkina is the victim on the defensive. The mere fact that your plane entered the Burkina Airspace unauthorized, sir, you are the culprit. So you cannot claim the right of self-defence.5.THE WAR SHOULD AVOID PHYRRIC VICTORY WHERE THE GAINS ARE LESS THAN THE GAINS. There is a Nigerian proverb that one does not burn a house to kill a snake that has entered the house. The envisaged gains apart from cheap popularity will be less than the costs. Do not be fooled by France into a senseless war. The Russian and North Korean Armada in Torres’ possession may render your victory, if at all you will be victorious, a PHYRRIC venture into futility. Sir, if after reading these, my points, and you still think that a military solution to a political problem is correct, then go ahead. Yet remember that in any situation of a major crisis, the first casualty is always the truth. The Truth is that any act of declaration of war by you on Burkina is not only unnecessary but also unjust. Burkina may not be a giant like Nigeria, but remember that when an innocent person fights, you are wrong; it becomes the spectacle for the gods. Sir, do not go to war against your junior brother, Burkina, just to please the outsider. Pax AFRICANA, Pax Nigeria, Pax Burkina EST
