Niger Republic’s political impasse urges the Senate and ECOWAS leaders to find a resolution
The Nigerian Senate has called on President Bola Tinubu, who currently serves as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to take action and encourage other ECOWAS leaders to explore diplomatic options to resolve the political impasse in Niger Republic. The Senate also requested the ECOWAS Parliament to condemn the coup and propose solutions to the situation.
After a closed-door meeting lasting about two hours, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced these resolutions on Saturday. The impasse stems from the overthrow of Niger President Mohamed Bazoum by his own presidential guards on July 26.
Akpabio stated, We discussed President Bola Tinubu’s request for support in implementing ECOWAS resolutions on the political situation in Niger and resolved as follows: The Senate leadership is mandated to engage further with the President and Commander in Chief on behalf of the Senate and National Assembly to find the best possible resolution. This is due to the longstanding cordial relationship between Nigeriens and Nigerians.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu and other ECOWAS Heads of State and Government for their swift response and positions taken on the unfortunate events in Niger Republic. Akpabio clarified that Tinubu, in his communication, did not seek the parliament’s approval to go to war, as mistakenly suggested in some quarters. Rather, he expressed the need for support from the National Assembly to successfully implement ECOWAS resolutions.
Furthermore, the Senate President firmly denounced the military coup that recently occurred in Niger.
In a letter addressed to the Senate on Friday, Tinubu conveyed the ECOWAS decisions regarding the military intervention in Niger. The letter stated, I do have the honor to inform you that, following the unfortunate political situation in Niger Republic culminating in the overthrow of President Mohammed Bazoum’s administration on July 26, 2023, ECOWAS, under my leadership, condemns the coup entirely. We, alongside other members of the international community, resolved to seek the restoration of a democratically elected government in Niger.
It is evident that the Nigerian Senate, under the guidance of President Bola Tinubu, is committed to finding a peaceful solution to Niger Republic’s political impasse. By engaging with the National Assembly and exploring diplomatic avenues, the Senate aims to uphold the long-standing relationship between the peoples of Niger and Nigeria. The condemnation of the military coup by both the Senate and ECOWAS highlights their dedication to democratic governance in the region.
