Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS), President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said the military coup in Niger Republic poses a risk to all West African region.
President Tinubu said this during the ongoing Extraordinary Summit of ECOWAS at Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Nigerian president disclosed that the outcome of the first congress held from August 2-4, 2023, to initiate a meeting of ECOWAS Chief of Defence Staff will be presented at the ongoing summit in order to “offer critical insight that will inform our collective decision-making process at this meeting”.
His words, “Today’s summit provides a significant opportunity for meticulously reviewing and accessing the progress made since our last gathering. It is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of our intervention and identify the gaps or challenges that we have in that progress. Only through this comprehensive assessment can we collectively chart a new sustainable path towards lasting peace, stability and prosperity in Niger.
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“More so, in reaffirming our relentless commitment to democracy, human rights and the wellbeing of the people of Niger, it is crucial that we prioritise diplomatic negotiation and dialogue as the bedrock of our approach. We did. It is our duty to exhaust all avenues of engagements to ensure a swift return to constitutional governance in Niger.
“More specifically, as leaders of our respective nations, we must recognise that the political crisis in Niger not only poses a threat to the stability of the nations but also has far-reaching implications for the entire West African region.
“We can restore peace and stability in the Republic of Niger. I’m confident that the second ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit today will be a defining moment in our journey towards a stronger, and integrated, more resilient West Africa. Let us cease this opportunity to make a lasting impact in the lives of our fellow Africans. Who else can do it except us? We must resolve to do it ourselves.”
Media teams were ushered out of the hall as presidents and stakeholders continued with the closed-door meeting.