Togo: Nigeria might use force
2005-02-14 21:33
Lagos - Nigeria will do whatever it takes to ensure peace in the region, the presidential spokesperson said on Monday when asked whether the West African heavyweight would consider intervening militarily in Togo.
"Whatever it takes to not only protect the territoriality of our nation, but also to ensure there's peace, democracy and stability in the West African sub-region, we will do," said Femi Fani-Kayode, a spokesperson for President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Obasanjo has spearheaded efforts by West African leaders to pressure Togo to reverse its army's installation of Faure Gnassingbe to succeed his late father as president.
Fani-Kayode would not say whether this meant Nigeria or regional groupings were considering sending troops into Togo.
The 15-nation Economic Community of West African States threatened sanctions if Togo doesn't roll back constitutional changes that legalised Gnassingbe's installation.
The African Union, currently headed by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, has also threatened sanctions.
"No one should test the will of our president, because he's a battle-tested and war-victorious general," Fani-Kayode said, referring to Obasanjo's status as a war hero from Nigeria's 1967-70 civil war.
"Nigeria has the most disciplined, the most well-equipped and the most cohesive and effective fighting force on the African continent," he added.
- AP