Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has warned that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), would not tolerate actions that incapacitate democratically-elected governments in the sub-region.
The warning comes amid coup fears in Niger Republic, where soldiers have held the country’s President, Mohamed Bazoum, hostage at the palace.
In a statement on Wednesday, President Tinubu, who issued the warning in his capacity as the ECOWAS Chairman, referred to the soldiers’ blockade of the presidential residence in Niamey as “unpleasant developments.”
Tinubu’s statement read: “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.”
