President Bola Tinubu has charged ECOWAS leaders to prioritise peace over military invasion in the troubled Niger Republic, which a group of revolutionary military officers has since invaded.
President Tinubu, who also serves as the chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, made the statements on Thursday at the opening of the 2nd Extraordinary Summit on the socio-political situation in the Republic of Niger in Abuja.
This is the regional bloc’s second gathering since the July 26 coup in Niger, which deposed the country’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.
Mr. Bazoum and his wife and son were placed under house arrest at the presidential palace in Niamey, the capital of Niger, as a result of the military takeover, which was directed by Mr Bazoum’s Presidential guards.
As a result, ECOWAS imposed penalties on the coup leaders, while Nigeria cut electrical supplies and closed its borders with the uranium-rich West African country.
However, Niger’s coup leaders have formed a new government, with the country’s new leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, naming 21 new ministers.
In reaction, President Tinubu in a statement issued Ajuri Ngelale, a spokesperson to the president said Mr Tinubu stressed to his west African counterparts about the importance of a comprehensive evaluation of progress thus far.
In the press release, President Tinubu was said to have also described how ECOWAS would send out teams of mediators and Special Envoys to communicate with important parties both inside and beyond the region.
As additional important sources of knowledge to inform the decisions of the Heads of State and Government at the meeting, the Nigerian leader cited the recent meeting of the ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff, the meeting of the Chiefs of Staffs Committee, and the ECOWAS Commission’s memorandum on recent
His words
“Today’s Summit provides a significant opportunity to meticulously review and assess the progress made since our last gathering. It is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of our interventions and identify any gaps or challenges that may have hindered progress.
“It is only through this comprehensive assessment that we can collectively chart a new sustainable path towards lasting peace, stability, and prosperity in Niger,” President Tinubu said.
Mr Tinubu further expressed confidence that the 2nd ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit would be a watershed event in the march towards a more resilient, integrated, and stronger West Africa.
As a result, he pushed fellow leaders to take this chance to make a long-term difference in the lives of Africans by building a future marked by peace, progress, and prosperity.
External intervention
The News.ng had reported how US Vice President Kamala Harris and United State Secretary of State Antony Blinken communicated with President Tinubu separately praising him for leading efforts to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger, which is currently dealing with an army-led revolution.
Both leaders voiced their support for President Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to restore constitutional order in Niger. President Tinubu was recently elected as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State.