Nigerian President Ball Tinubu says that he is the one who prevents ECOWAS and other anonymous forces from invading Niger to restore constitutional order in the country.
Tinubu, who is also chairman of the ECOWAS heads of state and government, said Thursday during a meeting with Nigerian Islamic clerics who are acting as mediators with the Niger junta.
“I am managing a very serious situation. If ECOWAS is pushed aside, other people will react, those who are out of our control. I am the one who stops those sides. I am the one holding ECOWAS back,” he said, according to an account of the meeting sent to Newslodge by his spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale.
The Nigerian leader, however, told his guests that he could not delay such a military intervention too long and that they should therefore speed up the dialogue with the Niger junta.
Although Tinubu did not name the “other people” he was referring to, it could be a reference to France, whose troops are stationed in Niger and have refused to recognize the junta’s authority.
This newspaper reported how despite Mr. Tinubu’s appeal, ECOWAS heads of state approved a military intervention in Niger and ordered the deployment of an ECOWAS reserve force to the country to ensure the return of President Mohamed Bazoum to the country. power if the dialogue fails.
Bazoum was ousted in a coup by soldiers last month and is still detained along with members of his family.
Despite the ECOWAS resolution, which has since been supported by the AU and the UN, many Nigerians oppose a military intervention in the neighboring country. Islamic clerics who met with Tinubu volunteered to mediate the crisis because of their opposition to the war and the close ethnic and religious ties between Nigeria and Niger.
ALSO READ: Coup in Niger: Junta Hints at Transition After Meeting with ECOWAS Delegation
Nigeria is expected to deploy the largest number of troops as part of the ECOWAS force in the event of a military intervention.
Read Mr. Ngelale’s full statement below.
ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government Chairman Bola Tinubu has implored a delegation of Islamic scholars (Ulamas), who previously engaged in discussions to facilitate the restoration of constitutional democratic governance in the Republic of Niger , that they accelerate progress in their ongoing dialogue with the military junta.
The president received a full briefing on Thursday at the State House in Abuja from the Ulamas, who were led to the meeting by Sheikh Bala Lau.
The briefing took place following the two most recent visits by the Ulama to the Republic of Niger.
Islamic leaders had informed the President that the military junta was open to deepening dialogue with ECOWAS as more steps were being taken to prevent armed conflict with more detailed acceptance of the ECOWAS position by ECOWAS officials. Military Council of Niger.
In response to the Ulamas delegation, in the context of ethnic rumors spread by internal political figures inside and outside the country, President Tinubu stressed that he is at the forefront of a peaceful resolution of the crisis, even in the midst of more hawkish individuals. . urging faster intervention.
“I am managing a very serious situation. If ECOWAS is pushed aside, other people will react, those who are out of our control. I am the one who stops those sides. I am the one holding ECOWAS back,” she revealed.
Referring to the urgency of the situation, the president added:
”Even since this morning I have been inundated with phone calls about preparing countries with their military strength and contributions. However, I told them to wait. I will meet the Ulamas and communicate with you.”
President Tinubu told the Islamic delegation that the military junta must be held accountable for endangering all the people of the Republic of Niger.
“They cannot use the weapon they were given to protect the sovereignty of the country and turn it against the people of the country,” he said.
President Tinubu promised that ECOWAS will remain steadfast in its commitment to engage diplomatically with all parties concerned and seek a peaceful solution to the stalemate in the Republic of Niger.
“I will draw a line in the sand and ask them to make arrangements to return to the Republic of Niger,” he said.
At the request of Islamic scholars for the federal government to oversee the distribution of palliatives to states, the president promised that more palliatives will arrive for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.
He also called on state governments to guarantee transparency and accountability in the distribution and management of these palliatives.
“People reside in the states. Even if I set up a panel, I will have to go through the governors and local governments. We will continue to speak with the governors. Nigerians must hold them accountable,” he continued.
“It is something unheard of in a constitutional democracy; a president will sit here and give orders to the states. I can only ask you to apply it. The people reside in the states, and if the governor does not do well, the people must remove him ”, he concluded.
ajuri angelale
special adviser to the president
(Media and advertising)
August 24, 2023
Read More Related News Here
Let hear it in the comment below if you do have an opinion on this; Coup in Niger: I am stopping the military invasion of ECOWAS and other countries