…as AU suspends Niger Republic
NOSA EGHAGHA
President Bola Tinubu, has met with the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Omar Touray; and former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, at the Presidential Villa over the political instability in Niger Republic.
The meeting also has Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser (NSA) to the president, in attendance.
Abdulsalami was at the Presidential Villa to brief Tinubu in his capacity as ECOWAS chairperson on the details of the meeting he had with the junta leaders in the neighbouring Niger Republic.
Abdulsalami had led ECOWAS delegation to Niger over the weekend to meet with the coup leader, Abdourahamane Tiani for a “final” negotiations for the return of power to the deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.
The delegation, which included Muhammad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, and the ECOWAS commission president, also met with the Niger’s prime minister, Ali Lamine Zeine, as well as Bazoum.
Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Tinubu, the ECOWAS Envoy said that he was optimistic that both parties would be able to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis other than resorting to use of military to intervene.
“As you are aware, the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government have made me an envoy to Niger Republic and we were there over the weekend to see the military people and discussed to find a way out of the lacuna we find ourselves. So that’s why I’m here this afternoon, together with the President of the ECOWAS Commission, to give a report back to Mr. President on our discussions in Niger.
“I must say that our visit to Niger has been very fruitful and that it has opened an avenue to start talking and hopefully we’ll get somewhere.
“Well, like I said, we’ve started talking, they have made their own points and then I made my report to the Chairman of the ECOWAS Heads of state and President. He will now consult with his colleagues and then the ding-dong starts and we’ll get somewhere hopefully.
“Hopefully, diplomacy will see the better of this. Nobody wants to go war, it doesn’t pay anybody, but then again, our leaders have said if all fails and I don’t think all will fail, we’ll get somewhere we’ll get out of this mess.” He said
Recall, in a late night address, Abdourahamane Tiani, the coup leader, said the country will return to civilian rule within three years.
Although he gave no details of the plan, noting that only principles for the transition, Tiani disclosed that the transition would be decided within 30 days at a dialogue to be hosted by the junta.
Meanwhile, ECOWAS has rejected the proposed transition plan, saying it would no longer accept prolonged transition periods in the sub-region
In a related development, the African Union, AU, has suspended Niger Republic over the ongoing situation.
