Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday said that he is managing a serious situation on the coup d’etat in the Niger Republic as he is faced with the challenge of holding back the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government which he leads as the chairman and those who are outside ECOWAS control from escalating the political problem in Niger.
President Tinubu, who said this in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, enjoined a delegation of Islamic scholars (Ulamas), who were previously engaged in discussions to facilitate the return of constitutional power to the ousted elected President Mohamed Bazoum, to expedite progress in their ongoing dialogue with the Niger military junta.
“I am managing a very serious situation. If you take ECOWAS aside, other people will react, those who are outside of our control. I am the one holding those sides back. I am the one holding back ECOWAS.
‘’Even as at this morning, I have been inundated with phone calls on the readiness of countries with their military force and contributions. However, I told them to wait. I am meeting with the Ulamas and I will get back to you,” the Nigerian President said.
Tinubu’s statement came shortly after the Islamic clerics under the aegis of Ulama, briefed him on their meetings with the junta in Niger.
Tinubu on Thursday sent them back to Niamey, Niger capital to continue their dialogue with the coup leaders to resolve the political crisis in the country.
The Islamic clerics delegation led by Sheikh Bauchi, met with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja to brief him on their dialogue with the junta in the Niger Republic on behalf of ECOWAS.
President Tinubu told the Islamic delegation that the military junta must be held accountable for putting the lives of the entire people of Niger Republic in jeopardy.
”They cannot use the gun given to them to protect the sovereignty of the country and turn it against the people of the country,” he said.
President Tinubu pledged that ECOWAS will remain steadfast in its commitment to diplomatically engage with all stakeholders and seek a peaceful resolution to the impasse in Niger Republic.
“I will draw a line in the sand and ask you to make arrangements to go back to Niger Republic,” he stated.
On the request by the Islamic scholars for the Federal Government to monitor the distribution of palliatives to states, the President promised that more palliatives are coming for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide.
He also appealed to state governments to ensure transparency and accountability in the distribution and management of these palliatives.
“The people reside in the states. Even if I set up a panel, I will have to go through the governors and the local governments. We will continue to talk to the governors. Nigerians must hold them accountable,” he continued.
“It’s unheard of that in a constitutional democracy; a president will sit here and give orders to states. I can only appeal to them to implement. The people reside in the states, and if the Governor is not doing well, the people must vote them out,” he concluded
After the meeting, the Islamic clerics insisted that they don’t want war or any military action in the Republic of Niger as the country shares boundaries with Nigeria.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Sheikh Bauchi, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to meet with the Nigerian President, saying, “We thank Allah for giving us the opportunity and we appreciate and commend the efforts of the President and as you saw, we have just met with him and told him all what went on there in Niger and he appreciated and he still gave us the mandate that we should continue to make this dialogue and discuss with the junta over there, because they gave us listening ears and we are sure, through peaceful discussions, we’ll be able to achieve what we want.
“We are still going back there to ensure that through peaceful and amicable ways, as spiritual leaders, we’ll be able to do and contribute what we can be able to do.
“What we want? We don’t want war, we want peace to reign in our region. So may Allah continue to bless the President for giving us this opportunity.”
Following a military takeover of power in Niger through a bloodless coup led by Abdourahamane Tchiani, on July 26, the authorities of the ECOWAS have insisted that the junta must return power to the deposed Niger President.
