SAHARA REPORTERS
Nigerian president, Bola Tinubu, has disclosed that he was guiding the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) carefully to manage its anger over the military coup in Niger Republic that toppled the democratically elected president.
Tinubu who is the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, disclosed this when he hosted the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday, revealed that he deployed back-channel strategies to avoid bloodshed.
“Leadership is about responding to the needs of the people; their cries, and their frustrations. Nigeria shares a border with Niger across the expanse of seven Nigerian states, and most of these states are very populated. Therefore, I need to guide ECOWAS carefully and steadily so that we manage our anger carefully.”
President Tinubu also noted that carrying any action against the military junta would endanger the life and that of the family of the ousted President, Bazoum.
”We have a colleague and a democratically-elected leader, President Mohamed Bazoum, being used as a human shield. If we are not careful, he and his family can be endangered.
”I am deploying all appropriate back-channel strategies to avoid bloodshed in Niger Republic. We recognise the wishes of our people; they do not want war, but that does not mean we cannot take bold and decisive action,” the president said.
SaharaReporters had reported that the regional bloc had threatened to use force to displace the military junta and reinstate the democratically elected President Bazoum.
Despite the military threats, the junta ignored the 15-member State West African body and instead aligned with neighbouring countries under military rule, stating that it was prepared to take on the body.
Hosting the French envoy, President Tinubu explained that Nigeria is monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country, and exploring diplomatic channels, even as he noted his administration will continue to galvanize international partners to ensure a peaceful resolution to the situation in the country.
He expressed the readiness of France to expand mutually beneficial collaboration with Nigeria across multiple sectors.
While commending the president, Coloma, conveyed the goodwill of President Emmanuel Macron while formally invite him to attend the forthcoming Paris Peace Forum.
Ms. Colonna said, “We support your efforts at ECOWAS. We are behind you because we believe that constitutional order is a treasure for all countries, and democracy must be a reality.”
