Senate urges Tinubu, ECOWAS leaders to resolve Niger impasse
The Senate on Saturday called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to encourage other leaders of West Africa to strengthen political and diplomatic options and other means with a view to resolving the political impasse in Niger Republic.
This resolution of the Senate followed its consideration of the President’s letter seeking the Red Chambers’ support on the implementation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) resolutions on the coup in Niger Republic.
The Senate also condemned the coup in Niger Republic, adding that the President did not seek its approval to go to war in the West African country.
It asked its leadership to engage with the President on how best to resolve the issues in view of the hitherto existing cordial relationships between Nigeriens and Nigerians.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, red the resolutions of the Senate after its closed door session where it considered the President’s letter.
Akpabio said: “On the resolution of ECOWAS on the political situation in Niger Republic resolves as follows:
“The Senate condemns in totality the military coup that took place recently in the Republic of Niger.
“The Senate commends President Bola Tinubu and other Heads of States and Governments of ECOWAS for their prompt response to the positions taken on the unfortunate development in Nigeria
“The Senate recognises the fact that President Tinubu, by virtue of his correspondence had not asked for the approval of the parliament or the approval of this Senate to go to war as being erroneously suggested in some quarters.
“Rather, Mr President as the Commander-in-Chief had expressed a wish to respectively solicit the support of the National Assembly in the successful implementation of ECOWAS resolutions as outlined in the said communication.
“The Senate calls on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the Chairman of ECOWAS to further encourage other leaders of ECOWAS to strengthen the political and diplomatic options and other means with a view to resolving the political impasse in Niger Republic.
“The National Assembly to the ECOWAS leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resolving the political situation in Niger and returning the country to democratic governance in the nearest future.
“The leadership of the Senate is mandated to further engage with the President and Comander-in-Chief on behalf of the Senate and the National Assembly on how best to resolve the issues in view of the hitherto existing cordial relationships between Nigeriens and Nigerians.
“Finally, the Senate calls on the ECOWAS Parliament to rise to the occasion by equally condemning this coup and also positing solutions to resolving this impasse as soon as possible.”
