Africa
Senate rejects Tinubu’s request to deploy troops to Niger, ask ECOWAS to tread with caution
The Senate has asked President Bola Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and other leaders of the region to tread lightly in addressing the political tension in the Niger Republic.
The Senate came up with the decision after a closed-door session that lasted close to two hours to discuss the letter written to the Senate on Friday by President Bola Tinubu on the decisions taken by the regional body.
While strongly condemning the Niger coup, the Senate praised the chairman, President Bola Tinubu, and other ECOWAS heads of state for their fast response and views on the tragic development in the Niger Republic.
However, the Senate asked ECOWAS to utilise political and diplomatic options to resolve the political upheaval in the Niger Republic.
Following the meeting, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, read the senators’ resolutions.
The resolution reads, “The Senate recognises that President Tinubu, via his correspondence, has not asked for the approval of the parliament of this Senate to go to war as erroneously suggested in some quarters.
“Rather, Mr. President has expressed a wish to respectfully solicit the support of the National Assembly in the successful implementation of the resolutions of the ECOWAS as outlined in the said communication.
“The Senate calls on the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the chairman of ECOWAS to further encourage other leaders of ECOWAS to strengthen political and diplomatic options and other means intended to resolve the political compass in the Niger Republic.
“The National Assembly to the ECOWAS under the leadership of President Tinubu in resolving the political situation in Niger and returning the country to democratic governance in the nearest future.
“The leadership of the Senate is mandated to further engage with the president and commander in chief on behalf of the Senate and the entire National Assembly on how best to resolve the issue given the hitherto existing cordial relationship between Nigeriens and Nigerians.
“Finally, the Senate calls on the ECOWAS parliament to rise to the occasion by equally condemning this coup and also positing solutions to resolving this compass as soon as possible”.
