By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
PRESIDENT, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman, ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has described as unpleasant Wednesday coup scare in Niger Republic.
Tinubu, in a statement he personally signed, said the world would not “tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of the country.”
According to him, “the ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa.”
While affirming that the situation in the country is being closely monitored, Tinubu said Nigeria was firmly in solidarity with the elected government in Niger.
The statement reads in part:
UNPLEASANT DEVELOPMENTS IN NIGER REPUBLIC
Information filtering in from the Republic of Niger indicates some unpleasant developments around the country’s highest political leadership.
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.
The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa.
I wish to say that 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.
I am in close consultation with other leaders in our region, and we shall protect our hard-earned democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism.
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.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu President, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman, ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government
July 26, 2023
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