Nigeria’s former military Head of State and leader of the Special Envoy of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Niger Republic, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, on Tuesday, expressed optimism that the crisis in that country was not likely to deteriorate beyond the diplomatic option being currently employed.
Abdulsalami gave the assurance after meeting Tinubu, who is Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.
The former head of state said a channel of communication had been opened between the ECOWAS envoy and the Niger junta for resolution of the crisis.
Abdulsalami described his recent meeting with the junta as successful, and said part of the reasons he came to Tinubu was to deliver the terms of the Niger military authorities.
Asked if there was any possibility of avoiding a military action in Niger, Abdulsalami said, “Hopefully, diplomacy will see the better of this. Nobody wants to go war, it doesn’t pay anybody. But then, again, our leaders have said if all fails and I don’t think all will fail, we’ll get somewhere; we’ll get out of this mess.”
Abdulsalami had held a meeting last weekend with Bazoum and the leader of the junta in the country, Abdouramane Tchiani, and said he had delivered the terms of the Niger military leadership to ECOWAS.
The former Nigerian head of state said correspondence had opened between the West African regional bloc and the military in Niger, noting that the line of contact opened by ECOWAS through his appointment as envoy had been very fruitful. He expressed hope that something concrete would soon come out of the process.
Abdulsalami told reporters, “As you are aware, the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government have made me an envoy to Niger Republic and we were there over the weekend to see the military people and discussed to find a way out of the lacuna we find ourselves.
“So, that’s why I’m here this afternoon, together with the President of the ECOWAS Commission, to give a report back to Mr. President on our discussions in Niger. I must say that our visit to Niger has been very fruitful and that it has opened an avenue to start talking and, hopefully, we’ll get somewhere.”
On the divergence of opinions between the regional bloc and the junta on the quick return to democratic rule, Abdulsalami said, “Well, like I said, we’ve started talking, they have made their own points and then I made my report to the chairman of the ECOWAS Heads of State and President. He will now consult with his colleagues and then the ding-dong starts and we’ll get somewhere, hopefully.”
Those present at Tuesday’s meeting with Tinubu included President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, and National Security Adviser (NSA) to the Nigerian president, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
Nonetheless, El-Rufai cautioned ECOWAS against military intervention in Niger. He posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, “As ECOWAS beats the drums of war, I recall the 1970s rock classic by Dire Straits – ‘Brothers in Arms’, because a war within our sub-region is a war between brothers.
“Indeed, the people of Niger Republic are one and the same with those living in Northern Nigeria. Let us bend, therefore, over backwards to avoid this civil war between brothers.”
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