Niger Coup: Senate Urges Tinubu, ECOWAS on Diplomatic Engagement
The Nigerian Senate has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pursue diplomatic channels in addressing the ongoing suspension of democracy in neighboring Niger Republic. This resolution was reached after a four-hour closed-door meeting focused on the crisis in the West African country.
The upper legislative chamber’s decision was based on an executive communication from President Tinubu, seeking the implementation of ECOWAS resolutions regarding the political situation in Niger Republic.
Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, clarified that President Tinubu did not request approval for Nigeria to engage in war with Niger Republic. He emphasized that there was a misrepresentation of the letter in the media. Instead, President Tinubu sought approval for the implementation of ECOWAS resolutions in his capacity as the Chairman of ECOWAS.
Akpabio stated, “By virtue of the correspondence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Commander-in-Chief, he has not sought approval of the parliament or Senate to go to war, as erroneously suggested in some quarters. Rather, Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief respectfully solicited support in the successful implementation of the ECOWAS resolutions in the said communications.”
The Senate leadership has been tasked with further engaging with President Tinubu on behalf of the entire Senate to find the best approach to resolving the crisis. They also called on the President of Nigeria, as Chairman of ECOWAS, to encourage other ECOWAS leaders to strengthen political and diplomatic options in order to resolve the impasse.
