ECOWAS Leaders Meet in Abuja, US, UN Back Tinubu’s Moves to Restore Democracy in Niger

*Buhari expresses shock, worries about Bazoum, family  

*France insists on reinstatement of Nigerien President

*General Tchiani is new leader, threatens bloodbath if foreign military intervenes

Deji Elumoye and Michael Olugbode in Abuja

In continuation of efforts to push back coupists and restore democracy in Republic of Niger, President Bola Tinubu, in his capacity as Chairman, ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, will tomorrow in Abuja host a special meeting of the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
.Also, the United States Vice President Kamala Harris and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, yesterday expressed strong support for Nigeria’s efforts toward the restoration of constitutional order in Niger.

This is coming on the heels of the insistence of the French government on reinstatement of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum. Likewise, former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari said he was shocked by the coup and expressed worries about the safety of Bazoum and his family.
Soldiers from the Presidential Guard had on Wednesday deposed President Bazoum, thus truncating the constitutional political leadership in the West African country.

Yesterday, the soldiers named General Abdourahamane Tchiani as the new leader of the country, with Tchiani warning against any foreign military intervention.
President Tinubu had in a statement he personally signed last Wednesday condemned the coup in Niger and promised that ECOWAS and the international community would do everything to defend democracy and ensure democratic governance continues to take firm root in the sub-region.
He declared: “As the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order.”

Tinubu also sent a strong delegation on an intervention mission to engage all the parties with a view to restoring constitutional order.
President of Benin, Patrice Talon, who visited Tinubu to discuss the crisis, was directed to proceed to Niger for talks with the coupists.
The United States Vice President and the United Nations Secretary-General are strongly in support of Tinubu’s efforts to restore constitutional order in Niger.
The two leaders, in separate telephone conversations with President Tinubu on Thursday evening in Abuja, commended him for spearheading the peace moves.
In her telephone conversation with Tinubu, at the instance of the US authorities, Harris pledged to support democracy in Africa, including the West African sub region, and also said the U.S. would assist Nigeria in the battle against terrorism.
Responding, President Tinubu thanked Harris for the telephone call and her words of encouragement on the efforts taken so far on the economy, but added that “the developments in Niger Republic dampen spirits.”

According to him, ECOWAS under his watch would do all that is necessary to restore democracy in Niger, while counting on the support of the US.
On Nigeria, President Tinubu craved for more private sector investment, urging the US to lead the way in this regard.
He said: “We had to get rid of the fuel subsidy that is laden with fraud with a few people appropriating the wealth of the country to themselves.
“We would need the US to help push for investments that will help alleviate the effects of subsidy removal in Nigeria. We need foreign direct investment to come in.

“We have abundant gas resources in the country and not being able to fund gas pipelines to Europe and compete in that gas market is a handicap.”
On climate change, the President said Nigeria would stay focused on alternate energy but pleaded for the developed nations to understand the situation in developing countries, including Africa.
The two leaders also spoke on strengthening relations between their two countries and on their shared work on global and regional issues.
In his conversation with Guterres, President Tinubu said he was doing everything possible to resolve the impasse in Niger.
While expressing the hope that the situation in Niger could still be reversed for better, he said ECOWAS would require UN’s support for restoring democracy and building institutions in that country.
Guterres had earlier pledged the commitment of the UN for Tinubu’s peace efforts in Niger.

France Insists on Reinstatement of Bazoum
France said yesterday that a power grab in Niger was not definitive and that those responsible still had time to accede to international demands that the ousted president be reinstated.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the trip by French President Emmanuel Macron to Papua New Guinea, France’s Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said countries in the West African ECOWAS bloc were likely to meet on Sunday with a discussion on imposing sanctions on Niger.
“If you hear me say attempted coup d’etat, it’s because we don’t consider that things are definitive,” Colonna was quoted by French media as saying.
Colonna said Macron had spoken to Bazoum yesterday and that he was in good health and should be released as a condition of restoring constitutional order.
“President Bazoum must be restored to his constitutional functions,” Colonna said.

General Tchiani Named New Leader
Soldiers involved in the military coup in Niger yesterday named General Tchiani as the new leader of the country. Tchiani swiftly warned against any foreign military intervention.
General Tchiani, head of the Presidential Guard since 2011, appeared on state television saying he was the “president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland.”
The general presented the coup as a response to “the degradation of the security situation” linked to jihadist bloodshed.
A statement followed from the putschists on TV which warned of “the consequences that will flow from any foreign military intervention.”

Buhari Expresses Shock, Worries about Bazoum and family
Former President Buhari said he was deeply shocked by the latest undemocratic developments in Niger.
Buhari in a statement issued by his former spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu also raised concern about the fate of democratic system of government in the country, as well as the safety of President Bazoum and his family.

The ex-President, according to the statement, said: “As to be expected, I, just like millions of other Nigerians, am shocked by the latest turn of events in Niger Republic, our neighbour to the North. I and my family are as much concerned about these as is everyone else.
“It is heartening to note that the ECOWAS, under the leadership of President Tinubu, is already dealing effectively with the matter and our hope and prayers are that the unwanted situation will be completely reversed and the safety and wellbeing of President Bazoum and his family are ensured.”

EU Threatens Sanction
The European Union (EU) has condemned in the strongest terms the coup in Nigér, insisting that the events in the West African country in recent days constituted a serious attack on stability and democracy.
It also warned that any abuse of the fundamental rights of the ousted leader would meet dire consequences with suspension of support to the troubled country.
The EU, in a statement yesterday signed by the High Representative said: “As ECOWAS pointed out in its latest press release, this coup is in total violation of the democratic principles on which the management of political power in the region is based.”

The EU reiterated its support for the action of the organisation in the sub-region and for the ongoing efforts to allow an immediate return to constitutional order.
It called for President Bazoum’s security and freedom of movement to be guaranteed unconditionally, warning: “Any breach of the constitutional order will have consequences for cooperation between the EU and Niger, including the immediate suspension of all budget support. We will remain in close coordination with the ECOWAS Heads of State.”

The coup continues to prompt international concerns, and yesterday, Kenyan President William Ruto called the army takeover “a serious setback” for Africa.
“The aspirations of the people of Niger for constitutional democracy were subverted by an unconstitutional change of government,” he said in a video message.
Bazoum and his family have been confined since Wednesday morning to their residence at the presidential palace located within the Guard’s military camp.
He is said to be in good health and has been able to talk by telephone to other heads of state.

The Guard’s chiefs who staged the coup had won broad army support.
Armed forces chief General Abdou Sidikou Issa swung his weight behind the putschists, saying it was “in order to avoid a deadly confrontation.”
France colonized Niger until the country gained independence in 1960. France and the US are two Western countries with great military presence and military bases in Niger but there are reports that Russia has been planning to stake its footprints in the country’s military and political landscape.
On Thursday, citizens were seen burning buildings belonging to the ruling party with some people carrying Russian flags and chanting pro-Russian slogans.