Tinubu: We’re Working Not to Compound Niger’s Crisis

•Welcomes ECCAS’ support, promises to work with Bongo 

•ECOWAS military chiefs meet in Ghana tomorrow over Niger

•German govt seeks release of detained Nigerien president  

•NEF urges FG to remove sanctions imposed on country

•Regional intervention to prevent more coups, says Akinyemi

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Michael Olugbode, Adedayo Akinwale and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu and chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), yesterday, briefed the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) on the political impasse in the Republic of Niger and assured it that ECOWAS was doing everything possible not to compound the situation in the country.

Tinubu, who spoke when he received in audience, the Special Envoy of President Ali Bongo Ondimba and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Gabon, Mr. Hermann Immongault, at the State House, Abuja, however, welcomed the solidarity support offered by group, and also promised to work with Bongo.

But the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has pleaded with the Republic of Korea to support ECOWAS in its bid to restore democracy in some African countries under the military rule.

This was as the ECOWAS military chiefs have set Thursday and Friday for further deliberations in Accra, Ghana, as parts of efforts to assess options to open to them in resolving the political impasse in Niger, following the ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum, by a junta led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani.

Also, in solidarity with the position of the ECOWAS leadership and global allies, the German government has called on the junta in Niger to release the detained President Mohamed Bazoum and fully restore constitutional order in the country.

At the same time, the  Northern Elders Forum (NEF), yesterday, called on the federal government to remove all sanctions and other measures intended to force the government and people of Niger into acquiescence.

Nonetheless, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Professor of Political Science, Bolaji Akinyemi, during a television programme, has described the ECOWAS intervention in Niger as a purpose to stop the spread of coups in the sub-region.

In another breath, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has warned that the threat by Niger’s military leaders to bring charges of  treason against the ousted president posed threat to the peaceful resolution of the crisis.

Relatedly, the UN WOMEN, an arm of the United Nations championing gender equality, has said it would soon send certified women mediators to Niger Republic to enable them participate in the peace process initiated by the global body in resolving the crisis in the country.

However, Tinubu, according to a release by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, said the special message of support and solidarity from President Bongo, who doubled as the Chairman of ECCAS, expressing full support for ECOWAS’ resolutions on Niger, proved once more that military interference in democratic governance was not acceptable anywhere, and no longer so in African.

“I appreciate the solidarity and support of President Bongo on the situation in Niger. We are working not to compound the problem. We have well-meaning people, who have intervened. I understand the fear of our people on any form of military action.

“We are working to keep the sanctions in place and we are following them to the letter. We are happy to know that ECCAS is with us on this. Interference in democratic governance is not acceptable to ECOWAS,” he said.

Tinubu, who promised to work with President Bongo and ECCAS to restore constitutional order in Niger, reinforced the position of the regional body not to accept any attempt by the military junta in Niger to intimidate and harass President Bazoum.

“We will work with ECCAS and keep President Bongo informed on our actions and we will continue to collaborate,” the president assured the delegation.

Earlier, the Special Envoy commended the leadership of ECOWAS and President Tinubu for the steps taken so far to restore democracy in Niger, adding that President Bongo and ECCAS were fully in support of all ECOWAS’ resolutions.

According to him, “President Bongo has been following your efforts and those of other ECOWAS leaders on the situation in Niger. President Bongo and ECCAS strongly condemn coup in Niger. He sent me here to tell you that he supports ECOWAS and your leadership in what you are doing to ensure democratic governance is restored in Niger.

“With Boko Haram attacks in Cameroon, piracy in Gulf of Guinea and the refugee situation in Chad, whatever happens in West Africa affects Central Africa. My President joins efforts with you and ECOWAS to find solution to the crisis in ECOWAS.”

The envoy promised to communicate the firm solidarity between ECCAS and ECOWAS to the military authorities in Niger as they meet in the coming days.

Senate to S’Korea: Help Restore Democracy in African

The Senate has urged the Republic of Korea to support ECOWAS in the collective bid to restore democracy in some African countries under the military rule.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the appeal yesterday, when the Special Envoy of the Speaker of Korea National Assembly, Hon. Suh Byung Soo, paid him a courtesy visit at the National Assembly in Abuja.

Akpabio explained to the police envoy that President Bola Tinubu was determined to turn Nigeria into a country that gives aids just like the Republic of Korea, from a country that receives aid.

He said, “We are here to support the Economic Community of West Africa States’ efforts in restoring democracy to many countries in West Africa and beyond.

“We hope that South Korea will work closely with Nigeria in that regard to ensure that democracy thrives, not just in West Africa, but in the whole of Africa, being the best form of government that guarantees development, freedom of speech, and freedom of association.

“That is what Nigeria stands for and I believe strongly that that is what would make for a stable economy going forward,” Akpabio said, congratulating South Korea on its 45 years of independence, which coincided with the visit.

The leader of the delegation, Hon Soo, noted that August 15th is a meaningful day to Korea being the day the country was liberated and became independent, and called for the establishment of the Korean-Nigeria parliamentary friendship group to boost the relationship between the two countries.

“Unfortunately, five years later, there was a Korean War that broke out in 1950.So, after three years of the Korean War, the Korean Peninsula was totally destroyed.

“But thanks to the international aid and also Koreans eagerness for education and hard work, we could recover from the ashes of the war and achieve the miracle of the Han River to become one of the top 10 countries in the world.”

ECOWAS Military Chiefs Meet in Ghana Thursday

The ECOWAS regional military chiefs have set Thursday and Friday for further deliberations on the Niger situation in Accra, Ghana.

Also, the German government have joined in the call for the immediate release of the ousted Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum.

Reuters, an international news agency, quoted a spokesperson for the regional body as disclosing these yesterday.

ECOWAS had earlier suspended a key military meeting on the crisis in Niger scheduled for August 12  in Accra, Ghana. It was learnt that the meeting was suspended indefinitely for “technical reasons”.

The meeting has, however, been scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Accra, Ghana.

But the German Development Minister, Svenja Schulze, has called for the immediate release of Bazoum.

The call by the representative of the German government came a day after the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, urged ECOWAS to pile more pressure on the military junta.

Schulze stressed that the coup in Niger was “a setback that aggravates the complex development challenges in the country and in the Sahel further,” adding: “We call for the immediate release of President Mohamed Bazoum and for the full restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.”

She made this declaration in a statement on behalf of the Sahel Alliance.

NEF Urges FG to Remove Sanctions Imposed on Niger

The  Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has called on the federal government to remove all sanctions and other measures intended to force the government and people of Niger into acquiescence.

Convener of NEC, Professor Ango Abdullahi, who made the call while addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, said it would make negotiations led by Nigeria, using all assets that both countries value, easier to conduct.

The body, however,  rejected in totality, any attempt to overthrow the constitutional order by the Nigerien military.

Abdullahi noted that the safety of President Bazoum, his family and restoration of the constitutional order must remain non-negotiable priorities.

The elder statesman stressed that the military leaders in Niger must accord due cognizance and respect for the position of ECOWAS, whose fundamental principles and goals Niger Republic submitted to.

NEF noted that active negotiations regarding Bazoum and the plans of the military leadership in Niger should commence immediately, adding that Nigeria was uniquely placed to engage the leadership of Niger Republic to accept these with minimum delay. 

Abdullahi stressed that President Bola Tinubu as the Chairman of ECOWAS and leader of Nigerians should explore ways of balancing these responsibilities without doing any injury to the position of Nigeria and Nigerians on Niger Republic and the unity of the ECOWAS.

“The Forum notes the apology offered by the military leaders in Niger to our president over the manner his envoys, General Abdulsalami and His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto were received. It advises that this should be treated as a sign of the respect and esteem with which Nigeria and President Tinubu are held by the putschists, which should not be wasted,” he said.

Akinyemi: ECOWAS Intervention to Prevent More Coups

A former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Professor of Political Science, Bolaji Akinyemi, yesterday, said the  intervention by ECOWAS in Niger was a bid to stop the spread of coups in the sub-region.

Akinyemi explained that of recent, there had been reoccurring  military coups in West African countries like Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, adding that the intervention was expected.

“I haven’t heard one single commentator, even those who are criticising ECOWAS, applaud the fact that the coup took place in Niger. ECOWAS simply said you have to draw the line somewhere and it is better drawn in the latest coup case.

“When President Bola Tinubu was elected Chairman of ECOWAS, obviously he laid down the parameters of his foreign policy and he said under his watch he was not going to allow coups to take place and he was not going to allow terrorism to take place. Those were the two legs which he identified in Guinea Bissau,” he added.

He explained that Nigeria as the head of ECOWAS, had every reason to be worried for the gradual return of military government in the subregion.

“Whether in Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and wherever, you would want to put a stop to the creeping phenomenon of coups. Yes, Nigerians whether in the north or south have been very vocal against the military component of the policy of ECOWAS.

“They felt that the military component being put on the table is so quick that there should have been more emphasis on diplomacy, dialogue and economic sanctions before you openly talk about military options.

“With the coup in Niger, soldiers in other countries would be looking at it and be thinking why can’t we replicate it in our country. The only thing that will put a stop to this creeping coupism would be an effective stop to the coup in Niger,” he said.

CNG Objects to Trying President Bazoum

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), has warned that the threat by Niger’s military leaders to bring charges of treason against the ousted president Mohamed Bazoum posed threat to the peaceful resolution of the crisis.

The CNG repudiated the suggestion to try Bazoum by the military authorities as well as every other move that potentially posed a threat to the peaceful resolution of the crisis and lead to escalation of any form.

Spokesperson of the group, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, in a statement, described the threats as ill-advised and condemnable.

He stressed that it was shocking that the military statement came hours after a group of Nigerian respected Islamic scholars announced a meeting with Niger’s coup leader Abdourahamane Tchiani, in Niamey, saying the general had agreed to hold “direct talks”.

Suleiman said: “Any attempt by the military leadership in Niger to press charges against Bazoum will only likely increase tensions between the military in Niger and the international community.”

UN WOMEN to Send Mediators to Niamey for Peace Talks

The UN WOMEN, an arm of the United Nations championing gender equality, said it would soon send certified women mediators to the Niger Republic to enable them participate in the peace process initiated by the global body to resolve the crisis in the country.

The Deputy Representative, UN WOMEN in Nigeria, Mr. Lansana Inonneh, stated this yesterday at the sidelines of a Sensitisation Workshop on Women Peace and Security in Nigeria, an event organised in conjunction with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS)  in Abuja.

The UN boss appealed to the leadership of ECOWAS to embrace dialogue in resolving the current impasse caused by the illegal overthrow of the democratically elected government in the West African country.

Inonneh explained that the certified women mediators had been engaged by the global body to meet with the various women groups in the Niger Republic on the roles they could play to avert the looming war in the country, as a result of the Coup d’etat there.

“Conflict is not a good thing. When it occurs, the best means to resolve it is a political process, dialogue. My appeal to ECOWAS is to thread on the line of making peace through dialogue. There should be more of political dialogues.

“From an institutional  perspective, we as United Nations entity for gender equality and empowerment of women, we have certified women mediators. We have just listed them.

“We have have contacted them and we are prepared to send them to Niger Republic with a view to having dialogue with other women in Niger so that they can be part of that peace process.

“The foundation upon which the United Nations was created, is promoting peace and therefore, we would always be on the line of peace. I believe that is what the Resident UN coordinator in the Niger Republic will be working towards also,” he said.

ECOWAS Seeks Return to Lagos Treaty for Stability

(ECOWAS has called for a return to the Lagos Treaty of 1975, which encourages inclusive governance system in order for the advancement of political and security stability in the member countries.

Vice President of ECOWAS Commission, Mrs Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, made the call yesterday in Abuja, at the launch of the project: Citizens Participation for Accountable and Inclusive Democracy (C-PAID), organised by West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Tchintchibidjaa noted that, member states of the ECOWAS must remain focused in their collective endeavour in the areas of peace and stability as to achieve the set goal of the organisation.

She said the call had become imperative in view of the fact that despite the overall appreciable progress made, particularly in the field of political governance, the subregion had continued to face considerable security challenges.

“The widespread public perception that national development plans and actions to improve socio-economic services through the provision of basic infrastructure and amenities such as healthcare, electricity, housing, employment, small scale business development and others are often perceived as elitist, exclusive and inadequate to serve the needs of communities.

“In other words, the state and the citizens do not view developmental needs from the same prism and often measure success or failure of policies and governance from different lenses.

“The recent trend of peaceful and violent demonstrations, call for a more in-depth discussion on the state and structure of inclusive governance in member states in line with the actualisation of the vision for a more stable, secure and citizen centered West Africa.

“Prevailing socio-economic challenges, manifesting through issues such as youth unemployment, has laid the foundation for new political and social movements by youth that challenge existing political establishments.

For his part, the Acting Resident Representative UNDP Nigeria, Mr. Lealem Dinku reiterated the role of internal politics in the role of insecurity in the region adding that democracy entails the ability of government to deliver to it’s people the expected mandate.