Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has promised Nigeria’s unrelenting efforts toward the restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
He made this commitment in separate telephone conversations with the United States Vice President, Mrs Kamala Harris, and United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Antonio Guterres.
Nigeria’s neighbour, Niger’s democratically elected President, Mr Mohammed Bazoum, was detained and removed in a coup led by members of the presidential guard.
A statement by the Mr Dele Alake, the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, said the two leaders also commended the Nigerian President, who is also the Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, for spearheading the peace moves in Niger after President Mohamed Bazoum was deposed on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
President Tinubu promptly rejected the coup in the Niger Republic, sending a strong delegation to talk with all the parties with a view to restoring constitutional order in Niger.
In her telephone conversation with President Tinubu, Mrs Harris praised the reform initiatives of the federal government, urging the country to continue in that direction.
While pledging to support democracy in Africa, including the West African sub-region, Mrs Harris also said the US would assist Nigeria in the battle against terrorism.
The US Vice President also spoke on the need for Africa, including Nigeria, to embrace energy transitions.
President Tinubu thanked Mrs Harris for the call and her words of encouragement on the efforts taken so far on the economy but added that “the developments in the Niger Republic dampen spirits.”
He said ECOWAS, under his watch, would do all that was necessary to restore democracy in Niger while counting on the support of the US.
On Nigeria, President Tinubu craved more private-sector investments, urging the US to lead the way in this regard.
Speaking with the UN Secretary-General, Mr Guterres, the president said he was doing everything possible to resolve the impasse in the neighbouring country.
While expressing the hope that the situation in Niger could be reversed for the better, he said ECOWAS would require the UN’s support for restoring democracy and building institutions in that country.
Mr Guterres had earlier pledged the commitment of the UN to President Tinubu’s peace efforts in Niger.
