Niger Republic coup leaders have agreed to meet with some Nigerian peace delegations to try to overcome the impasse caused by the continuing military takeover in the uranium-rich country.
Last week, President Bola Tinubu dispatched a delegation of notable religious leaders to Niger to meet with coup leaders and discuss ways to resolve the country’s political difficulties.
The Islamic scholar group, led by Sheikh Abdullahi Lau, reportedly met with General Abdourahmane Tchiani for a number of hours in Niamey, the capital of Niger
According to NTA, Nigeria’s owned Television station, all parties discussed all of the concerns, including the demand by ECOWAS leaders for the reinstatement of former President Bazoum.
President Bazoum was arrested last month and kept inside Niamey’s presidential palace, where he has remained alongside his family on house arrest.
In reaction, President Tinubu promptly disregarded the threat to Niger’s democracy and dispatched a large delegation to work with all parties to restore constitutional order.
Last week, ECOWAS, led by President Tinubu who also serves as the chairman of the authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, directed the deployment of standby military soldiers to Niger Republic following the military junta’s refusal to restore democratic order since its takeover in July 26.
But the West African regional bloc had insisted that all options remain open in which it dispatched an Intervention Team comprising prominent Islamic scholars to the country for peace talks.
NTA who cited a statement made by sheikh Lau claimed that the team had already communicated their stance to President Tinubu, that the political deadlock in Niger should be resolved through discussion.
As a result, he emphasised to General Tchiani that the trip to Niger was intended to engage in fruitful discussion in an attempt to encourage him and other military authorities involved in the coup to choose the path of peace rather than violence to settle the problem.
He noted that General Tchiani responded, gave the Nigerian delegation a warm welcome and praised their action.
He revealed that the juntas were willing to consider using diplomacy and peace to settle the conflict.
“We will now go back home and report to President Tinubu what we have discussed and press it on him that war is not an option in resolving the matter.
“We believe that war is an ill wind that will not blow any good and that peaceful resolution should prevail.”