Niger: Senate urges Tinubu, ECOWAS to explore political, diplomatic options

Forum 8 months ago

Niger: Senate urges Tinubu, ECOWAS to explore political, diplomatic options

The Senate on Saturday advised President Bola Tinubu, who is also the chairman of the Economic Community of West African Communities, to explore diplomatic and political options to address the Niger coup.

The Senate in a resolution read by the Senate President, GodsWill Akpabio, after a two-hour closed-door session, also explained that the President didn’t ask the Senate to approve that the country should go to war.

The President, had in a letter to the Senate on Friday, sought its support on military intervention in Niger.

He also sought the backing of the legislature on the cutting off of electricity supply to the Niger Republic.

The PUNCH had reported that Niger’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, was toppled by his guards.

Tinubu had on Sunday met with some fellow ECOWAS leaders to discuss appropriate ways to restore democracy in Niger.

The leaders of the West African regional bloc met to discuss sanctions to be placed against the military personnel who toppled Bazoum on July 26, 2023.

The Senate however, in its resolutions on Saturday, “Call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the chairman of ECOWAS to further encourage other leaders of ECOWAS to strengthen political and diplomatic options and other means with a view to resolving the political impasse in Niger Republic.

“The National Assembly to the ECOWAS under the leadership of President Tinubu in resolving the political situation in Niger and returning the country to democratic governance in the nearest future.”

It also added that “the leadership of the Senate is mandated to further engage with the President who is also the Commander-In-Chief on behalf of the Senate and the entire National Assembly how best to resolve the issue in view of the hitherto existing cordial relationship between Nigeriens and Nigerians.”

It also called on the ECOWAS parliament to “rise to the occasion by equally condemning this coup and also positing solutions to resolving this impasse as soon as possible.”