Tinubu Meets With 5 Nigerian Governors Whose States Border Niger Republic

Nigeria President Bola Tinubu on Sunday evening met with govenors of five states that border Niger Republic at the State House in  Abuja. 

The meeting, Presidency sources said, was part of consultations by the President on the political situation in Niger. 

The governors in attendance were Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Mai Malam Buni (Yobe), Idris Nasir (Kebbi) and Dr Dikko Radda (Katsina).

Sunday’s meeting was coming more than 24 hours after the Nigerian Senate urged Tinubu to explore political and diplomatic solutions to the Niger crisis.

President Tinubu had through a letter written to the senate sought support for ECOWAS’ resolution which put the option of military action on the table.

The senate asked Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the Economic  Community  of  West  African  States, and other leaders of the region to tread with caution in addressing the political quagmire  in Niger Republic.

Rising Saturday from a closed  door  session  that lasted close to two hours to discuss the letter written to the senate  on Friday by President Tinubu on the decisions  taken by the regional body, the senate asked ECOWAS and its leaders to strengthen political and diplomatic options and other means with a view to resolving the political crisis in Niger Republic.

THISDAY also gathered that the meeting withcthe governors held at the Glass House, temporary residence of President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, 

 was convened to get input from the said Northern Governors as the seven-day ultimatum for the military in Niger Republic to reinstate the overthrown President expires.

ECOWAS Heads of State and Government had last Sunday given a seven-day ultimatum to the military junta that sacked the democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum to reinstate the ousted leader.

The military junta led by Abdourahamane Tchiani, President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), took over after a coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, on 26 July 2023.

The Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS, in its resolution, still recognises Bazoum as the legitimate President of Niger.

The regional body has also imposed land border closures and no-fly zone conditions on Niger Republic.

Also, all Defence Chiefs of the member-states have been tasked to strategize on effective ways to implement a possible military operation to restore constitutional order in Niger. 

According to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, who read the communiqué, the body called for “the immediate release and reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum as President and Head of State of the Republic of Niger and for the full restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.”

Tehy also said they “reject any form of resignation that may purportedly come from His Excellency, President Mohamed Bazoum; considered the illegal detention of President Bazoum as a hostage situation and hold the authors of the attempted coup that are solely and fully responsible for the safety and security of His Excellency President Mohammed Bazoum, as well as members of his family and government.”

They went on to say that “In the event the Authority’s demands are not met within one week, (we will) take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Nigeria.”

ECOWAS also suspended all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Niger and froze all service transactions including energy transactions.

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

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