Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, the former Emir of Kano, has spoken with the military coup leaders in the Republic of Niger in response to pressure from other countries to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
After the junta called off a meeting with officials of the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Sanusi—who was also a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)—met with the military leadership on Wednesday.
Recall that an ECOWAS mission sent by President Bola Tinubu and headed by Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar (retired) was unable to mediate a settlement with the military rulers because they Junta refused a meeting with them.
However, videos of Sanusi, whose Tijjaniya sect has a sizable followership in Niger, began to circulate on Wednesday.
Sanusi, the Khalifa of the sect in Nigeria and a well-known economist from the country, met with the Junta’s top officials and the Sultan of Damagaran. The third-largest city in Niger is called Damagaran.
Sanusi was in Niger, according to the Daily Trust’s sources, to consider the potential of mediating the conflict through dialog.
“His Highness took the trip in his personal capacity but with the knowledge of President Bola Tinubu following his concerns about the impasse and the likely consequences it is already having on Nigeria-Nigeria relations and the citizens of the two countries,” a source told the Daily Trust.
After the seven-day deadline set by ECOWAS for the restoration of Bazoum expired, Tinubu requested a meeting for Thursday.
The regional bloc had threatened Niger with military action and imposed harsh penalties; this action was roundly condemned, especially in Nigeria.
More details later…
