July 26, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s President and Chairman, ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has warned undemocratic forces in Niger to have a rethink and allow civil authority and constitutional democracy in the country.
President Tinubu’s statement followed reports of an ongoing coup attempt by Niger’s Presidential Guard (GP).
The Guard, on Wednesday morning, sealed off President Mohamed Bazoum’s residence in an attempt to take over Government in Niger
Although the President, in a latest report, said he and his family are safe and assured that the Army and the National Guard are ready to attack the elements of the Presidential Guard involved in the attempt if they “do not return to better feelings”.
Nigeria’s President, in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday, said Nigeria and ECOWAS are watching developments in Niger.
Tinubu assured that Nigeria, along with ECOWAS, will deploy necessary arsenals to ensure democracy in Niger.
The statement reads: “Information filtering in from the Republic of Niger indicates some unpleasant developments around the country’s highest political leadership.
“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.
“The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa.
“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.
“I am in close consultation with other leaders in our region, and we 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.”
