Breaking: Senate Opposes Nigerian Military Intervention in Niger Republic, Urges Tinubu, ECOWAS Leaders to Explore Diplomacy

*Asks Akpabio, principal officers to meet President

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Senate on Saturday advised President Bola Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, to adopt diplomacy in tackling the change of government in the Republic of Niger.

President Tinubu had in an official communication sent to the red chamber on Friday, sought its support for the Implementation of Resolutions of ECOWAS on the Political Situation in Niger Republic.

But after a two-hour deliberations behind closed doors on Saturday, the Senate advised President Tinubu against using military actions to force the Coupists out of power.

Addressing his colleagues after the closed session, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, also said the Senate agreed that its leadership should meet with Tinubu over the resolutions of the red chamber.

Akpabio said, “The Senate commends President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and other Heads of States and Governments of the ECOWAS for their prompt response and the position taken on the unfortunate development in Niger Republic.

“The Senate recognises the fact that President Tinubu by virtue of his correspondence has not asked for the approval of this Senate to go to war as being erroneously suggested in some quarters. 

“Rather, the President and Commander in chief had expressed and I quote, “He wished to respectively solicit the support of the National assembly in the successful implementation of the ECOWAS resolutions as outlined in the said communication.”

“The leadership of the senate is mandated to:

“Urge the President and Commander in chief on behalf of the senate on how best to resolve the issues 

“The Senate calls on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as chairman of ECOWAS to further encourage other leaders of ECOWAS to strengthen the political and diplomatic options and other means with which to resolve the political impasse in Niger Republic.

“The National Assembly to the ECOWAS leadership under President Tinubu to resolving the political situation in Niger and returning the country to democratic governance in the nearest future.

“The leadership of the senate is mandated to further engage the President and Commander in Chief on behalf of the senate and the national Assembly on how best to resolve the issue in view of the hitherto existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and Nigeriens.

“Finally, the Senate called on the ECOWAS Parliarment to rise to to the occasion by condemning this and also positing solutions to resolve this impasse as soon as possible.”