NIGER: War not solution to democracy, Senate tells ECOWAS

The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Saturday, discouraged the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, from going to war against new military government in Niger.

The President Bola Tinubu-led ECOWAS had already warned the military to restore democracy or face military intervention after a week.

But the Senate has called on ECOWAS and other leaders of the region to strengthen political and diplomatic options and other means to resolve the political quagmire in Niger Republic.

The Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who read resolution of the Senate, said that “the Senate recognises that President Tinubu via his correspondence has not asked for the approval of the parliament of this Senate to go to war as erroneously suggested in some quarters.

“Rather Mr President has expressed a wish to respectfully solicit the support of the National Assembly in the successful implementation of the resolutions of the ECOWAS 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 political and diplomatic options and other means intending to resolve the political compass in Niger Republic.

“The National Assembly to the ECOWAS under the leadership of President Tinubu in 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 commander in chief with on behalf of the Senate and the entire National Assembly on how best to resolve the issue given the hitherto existing cordial relationship between Nigerieans 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 compass as soon as possible.”