Concern Nigerians have reacted to the decision of West African junta-led states Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso on Sunday announced leaving the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) immediately, according to a joint statement read out on Niger national television.
According to the spokesperson, “After 49 years, the valiant peoples of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger regretfully and with great disappointment observe that the (ECOWAS) organization has drifted from the ideals of its founding fathers and the spirit of Pan-Africanism.
These West African countries are currently led by soldiers following coups that ousted the civilian leadership in the countries with Niger being the latest, accused ECOWAS of “inhumane” sanctions imposed on them to reverse the coups.
In his reaction on X (Twitter), the former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar said the reports of the withdrawal of these three countries from sub-regional body, ECOWAS is a thing of concern, adding that this is a matter of serious diplomatic meltdown.
The 2023 People’s Democratic Party PDP Presidential Candidate stated that Nigerians and the Federal Government must keep the national security interest, especially the fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and others in focus while it appraise the situation.
Also, Remo Omokri on Twitter said the withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States is more of a setback for those countries than for ECOWAS.
According to him, “What has been their historic contribution to ECOWAS over the years? In terms of financial contributions, they were not contributors. Regarding the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), their military contribution was appreciated.
“However, it was negligible. Nigeria and Ghana bore the brunt of ECOMOG. As a matter of fact, Burkina Faso even supported Charles Taylor, who was fighting ECOMOG.
The former Presidential aide who said he supported and wholeheartedly align with the steps President Bola Tinubu took to contain military coups against democratically elected governments in West Africa.
Added, “Yes, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso are landlocked poor nations that need ECOWAS more than ECOWAS needs them. Nevertheless, Nigeria gave leadership to West Africa, which has since halted the raft of coups that threatened the subregion.
He said, “Military dictators took the decision, and the unwise move will more than likely be overturned when democracy returns or even when a new strong man overthrows the present Putin puppets in those nations. Their economic and security situation has worsened since the coups that occurred in each of those countries.
“And their reason for withdrawal is just a ruse. They claim that the ECIWAS has derailed from the founding fathers’ ideals. But that does not hold water given that the ECOWAS was founded in 1975 to promote democracy and good governance, as well as inter-regional trade and security in 1975”.
Omokri made it clear that If anybody has derailed from these ideals, it is Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso who have just traded neo-colonisation from France with overlordship from Russia.
He said Nigeria was right to push for sanctions when these countries went from democracy to dictatorship. “We have seen this before. Even Nigeria said worse about the Commonwealth under Abacha. But as soon as Abacha ‘died’, we returned to the Commonwealth. Let us see how long this so-called withdrawal will last”.
Former Senator, Shehu Sani on X while reacting to this development said the Withdrawal of Mali, Niger Republic and Burkina Faso from Ecowas is a serious set back for West Africa.
He added that the withdrawal signifies the failure of diplomacy and dialogue, Sani said Nigeria has lost its African blood brothers because of Western conditional friends. According to him, “We sacrificed our hands to keep our wristwatches”.
Meanwhile, The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has clarified that it is working assiduously with Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso for the restoration of constitutional order as directed by the Authority of Heads of State and Government.
A statement released by the Commission on Sunday reaffirms its commitment in finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse, stressed that Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali remain important members of the Community.
The statement earlier informed its attention drawn to a broadcast on National Televisions of Mali and Niger announcing their intention of withdrawing from ECOWAS.
The Commission further stressed that it is yet to receive any direct formal notification from the three member states about their decision to withdraw from the Community.