President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has warned that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) would not tolerate any attempt to unseat the democratic government in Niger Republic.
Speaking on Wednesday in a statement in his capacity as Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Tinubu said he was closely monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country.
He added that the ECOWAS under his watch would do everything within its powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted in the region.
Reports say Niger President, Mohamed Bazoum is being detained in alleged coup attempt by members of the Presidential Guard, who have been given an “ultimatum” by the army.
Reacting, Tinubu said the ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa.
According to him, “It should be quite clear to all players in the Republic of Niger that the leadership of the ECOWAS Region and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of the country.
“I wish to say that we are closely monitoring the situation and developments in Niger and we will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region,” the Nigerian leader noted.
Tinubu noted that he is in close consultation with other leaders in the region, vowing that the regional leaders shall protect “our hard-earned democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism.”
“As the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order,” the president maintained.
Bazoum was democratically elected in 2021 as President of the Niger Republic, taking the helm of one of Africa’s poorest and most coup-prone countries.
