Nigeria’s President and ECOWAS Chairman, Asiwaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, in Abuja, described the recent developments in the Republic of Niger as “unpleasant”, insisting that Nigeria will do all within its power to plant and nurture democracy in West Africa.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and developments in Niger and we will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region,” Tinubu said in his capacity as Chairman, ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
On Wednesday afternoon, local media reported that Nigerien President, Mohamed Bazoum, is being detained by members of the Presidential Guard, who have been given an “ultimatum” by the army.
Disgruntled members of the guard had cordoned off access to the president’s residence and offices, and after talks broke down, they “refused to release the president.”
President Bazoum is at his residence with his family, AFP reports.
Bazoum was democratically elected in 2021, taking the helm of the landlocked West African state in April of that year.
Tinubu described information filtering in from Nigeria’s northeastern neighbour as “unpleasant developments,” stating firmly that “The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa.”
The President said it should be quite clear to all players in the Republic of Niger that the leadership of the ECOWAS Region and all lovers of democracy around the world “will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of the country.”
Tinubu revealed that he is in close consultation with other leaders in the region, and collectively, they shall protect Niger’s “hard-earned democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism.”
He said, “As the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order.”
Meanwhile, the Economic Community of West African States, Wednesday condemned in strong terms “attempted coup d’état in Niger.
In a statement posted on its website, the regional body called on the “coup plotters” to free the democratically elected president, Mohammed Bazoum.
“ECOWAS has received the news of an attempted coup d’Etat in Niger with shock and consternation. ECOWAS condemns in the strongest terms the attempt to seize power by force and calls on the coup plotters to free the democratically- elected President of the Republic immediately and without any condition.
“ECOWAS and the international community will hold all those involved in the
plot responsible for the security and safety of the President, his family, members of the government and the general public.”
