Niger: Senate Opposes Military Deployment, Urges ECOWAS Leaders To Consider Alternative Options

Leaders of the Economic Community of  West  African  States,  ECOWAS , have been urged to tread cautiously in respect of the steps being taken  to address  recent developments in the Republic of Niger.

The Nigerian senate gave this advice after senators met in closed session to discuss the issue on Saturday.

 Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the closed session lasted for almost two hours and the letter sent to the senate by President Bola Tinubu in respect of the issue was top on the agenda.

In a coup detat carried out  in the Republic of Niger on July 26, 2023, President Mohamed Bazoum was arrested and  detained by the  coup plotters led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani.

Presidents of member countries of the   Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),  had  also met at the State House, Abuja on  July 30, 2023  to discuss the coup detat carried out by the military officers  and they had  issued a seven-day ultimatum demanding that Muhammed Bazoum  should be returned to power without delay.

The regional body had also  imposed sanctions on the coup leaders with Nigeria also cutting electricity supply and closing its borders with the country in question.

President Bola Tinubu had also sent a letter to the Senate seeking its support for military intervention to root out the coup plotters .

He also sought the backing of the parliament on the decision to cut off electricity supply to the country.

‘At our executive session, the Senate condemned in totality the coup that took place in Niger Republic.

The Senate commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other Heads of State of ECOWAS for their prompt response.

The Senate recognizes the fact that President Tinubu, by the virtue of his correspondence, has not asked that we should approve a request to go to war, but he expressed a wish to solicit support in the successful implementation of the ECOWAS communique.

The leadership of the Senate is mandated to further engage the President on how best to engage and resolve the issues.

The Senate is mandated to further engage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on how best to resolve the issue in view of the cordial relationship between Nigeria and Niger.

The Senate calls on the ECOWAS Parliament to rise to this and condemn the military coup in Niger and to resolve the impasse’ President of the Senate,  Senator  Godswill  Akpabio , submitted while reading out the resolutions of the closed session on Saturday- Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you