Nigerian has insisted that there is need to approach the issue of Niger’s coup with diplomacy and not through war over the ECOWAS Heads of States summit conclusion which resulted to the activation of the military forces against the junta.
Adamu Garba while reacting to this development said on Tweets that if indeed, war is declared by ECOWAS Heads of States against Niger in the name of democracy, it is going to be the most strategic miscalculation for Africa in the 21st century.
An official communique read by Dr. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, said the leaders has directed the Committee of the Chiefs of Defence Staff to activate the ECOWAS standby force with all its elements immediately.
The leaders also issued a stern warning to member states whose actions, whether direct or indirect, impede the peaceful resolution of the Niger crisis as the communique emphasized that such actions would entail consequences within the ECOWAS community.
Contrarily to the Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu double as ECOWAS Chairman who assured in a statement issued by the State House that the regional bloc will continue to champion diplomacy and dialogue, as well as earnest discussions with all parties involved, to restore constitutional order in Niger.
Tinubu spoke at the opening of the 2nd ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit on Thursday, reaffirming relentless commitment to democracy, human rights, and well -being of the people of Niger, saying “it’s crucial that we prioritize diplomatic negotiations and dialogue as the bedrock of our approach”.
Adamu Garba who emphasized on Nigerian President, Tinubu’s speech said, “This goes contrary to the statement made by the state house earlier today on the need to approach the issue of Niger’s coup with diplomacy and not through war.
He added he is not sure that this is the way war is declared, pressing further that there must be an approval from National Assembly, National Security Council, and the Council of State.
“The President must also talk to the Nation justifying the need for war. ECOWAS cannot declare war directly. Sometimes the media can speculate. We might need to wait and see how the event unfolds”, Adamu Garba said.
In his closing remarks at the 2nd Extraordinary Summit on the situation in Niger on Thursday in Abuja, Nigerian President expressed his appreciation for member states’ dedication toward all efforts in resolving the challenges of Niger.
He emphasized that the remarkable outcome of the summit, which authorized the standby deployment of ECOWAS troops to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger, attests to the power of collaboration and unity among ECOWAS member states.
According to him, “We have reaffirmed our commitment to the people of Niger and to the progress of our entire ECOWAS Community. We will continue with that. From the Communiqué of this extraordinary summit, no option is taken off the table, including the use of force as the last resort”.
The Communiqué reads further, underscoring continued commitment to restoring constitutional order through peaceful means, the leaders noted that all diplomatic efforts made by ECOWAS in resolving the crisis have been repelled at various intervals by the military rulership of the Republic of Niger.
As the one-week ultimatum for the restoration of constitutional order expired, the ECOWAS Authority made the following decisions: (A) Reiterates its strong condemnation of the attempted coup d’etat and the continued illegal detention of President Mohammed Bazoom, his family, and members of his government.
(B) Further condemns the condition in which President Bazoum is being detained and holds the CMSP fully and solely responsible for the safety, security and physical integrity of President Bazoum, and members of his family and government.
(C) Upholds all measures and principles agreed upon by the Extraordinary Summit held on Niger on 30th of July, 2023. (D) Underscores the determination of the ECOWAS Authority to keep all options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis.
(E) Enforces all measures, in particular, border closures and strict travel bans as well as asset freezes on all persons or groups of individuals whose actions hinder all peaceful efforts aimed at ensuring the smooth and complete restoration of Niger’s constitutional order.
Furthermore, the West African leaders called on the African Union to endorse their decisions on the Niger crisis while also urging partner countries and institutions, including the United Nations, to support ECOWAS in its effort to ensure a quick restoration of constitutional order in Niger Republic.