Tinubu seeks senate approval on military deployment to Niger Republic

President Bola Tinubu has written to the senate  concerning the coup in Niger Republic, while seeking support for  military intervention and other resolutions agreed by the Economic Committee of West African States (ECOWAS) on how to return Mohamed Bazoum to power after the democratically elected president was toppled by his guards.

Tinubu, Nigeria’s president and ECOWAS chairman, communicated the letter to the senate following a meeting  with some fellow ECOWAS leaders to discuss appropriate ways to restore democracy in Niger.

The letter, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on the floor during plenary, was titled: “Implementation of the resolutions of the Economic Committee of West African States (ECOWAS) on the political situation in Niger Republic.”

The President’s letter partly read, “I present my modest compliments to the Distinguished Senate President and Distinguished Senators.

“I do have the honour to inform you that following the unfortunate political situation in Niger Republic culminating in the overthrow of His Excellency, President Mohammed Bazoum on 26th July 2023, the Economic Community of West African States under my leadership condemned the coup in its entirety and resolved alongside other members of the international community to seek the return of the democratically elected Government in Niger.

“Consequently, in a bid to broker peace and restore democracy in the country, the ECOWAS convened an extra-ordinary summit of the authority of Heads of States and Governments on Sunday 30th July, 2023 in Abuja.

“The body consisted the African Union and ECOWAS Protocols on constitutional changes of Government thereafter issued a communiqué, a copy attached, on the line of action decided upon by Member States.

The ECOWAS chairman emphasised that Nigeria has the obligation to lead in the implementation of the directives outlined in the communique. He therefore directed all the extra ministerial developments and agencies including military and paramilitary agencies which actions include:

-Cutting off Electricity supply to Niger Republic.

Mobilizing international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communique.

Preventing the operation of commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic and Blockade of goods in transit to Niger Republic especially from Lagos and the Eastern seaports

Closure and monitoring of all land borders with Niger Republic and reactivation of the border drill exercise.

Tinubu  said that his administration is embarking on sensitization of Nigerians and Nigerians on the imperative of the actions particularly via social media.

The president also warned of a military build up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance by the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant to the ECOWAS communique.