…Urges ECOWAS leaders to double-down on diplomatic option to resolve budding crisis
By Ishola Kayode
The Nigerian Senate has turned down President Bola Tinubu’s request for military offensive to rein in Niger’s military junta and secure restoration of the Sahelian nation’s ousted president.
It also asked the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS and other leaders of the region to be circumspect in addressing the political crisis in Niger Republic.
Rising from a closed-door session that lasted close to two hours to discuss the letter written to the Senate on Friday by President Tinubu on the decisions taken by the regional body, the Senate asked ECOWAS to strengthen political and diplomatic options and other means to resolve the foggy political situation in Niger Republic.
The Senate while unanimously slamming the Niger coup, commended the chairman, President Bola Tinubu and other Heads of State of the other States of ECOWAS for their prompt response and the positions taken on the unfortunate development in Niger Republic.
Reading the resolutions of the senators after the meeting, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said “the Senate recognises that President Tinubu through his correspondence has not asked for the approval of the parliament of this Senate to go to war as erroneously suggested in some quarters.
“Rather Mr President has expressed a wish to respectfully solicit the support of the National Assembly in the successful implementation of the resolutions of the ECOWAS as outlined in the said communication.
“The Senate calls 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 intending to resolve the political compass 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.
“The leadership of the Senate is mandated to further engage with the president and commander in chief with on behalf of the Senate and the entire National Assembly on how best to resolve the issue given the hitherto existing cordial relationship between Nigerieans and Nigerians.
“Finally, the Senate calls on the ECOWAS parliament to rise to the occasion by equally condemning this coup and also positing solutions to resolving this compass as soon as possible.”
