Tinubu sends Abdulsalami, Sultan to discuss with Niger junta

Tinubu sends Abdulsalami, Sultan to discuss with Niger junta

Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Tinubu, has sent a high-powered delegation to meet with leaders of the military that seized power recently in Niger Republic.

The delegation led by a former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd), left for Niamey on Thursday with a mandate to resolve the current political impasse in the country.

The action is coming amid the seven-day deadline given by ECOWAS to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
This is contained in a statement on Friday by Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale.

He said Tinubu’s action was in line with the resolution of the ECOWAS extraordinary summit reached last weekend in Abuja.

He said the delegation left after receiving a briefing from President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.
The former Nigerian Head of State is joined on the delegation by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Omar Alieu Touray.

The President has also reportedly sent a separate delegation led by Ambassador Babagana Kingibe to engage with the leaders of Libya and Algeria on the Niger crisis.

According to the statement, President Tinubu charged the two delegations to engage all stakeholders and ensure amicable resolution of the crisis in Niger.

“We don’t want to hold brief for anybody. Our concern is democracy and the peace of the region,” the President said.

Speaking after the meeting, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd) said the delegation would meet the coup leaders in Niger to present the demands of the ECOWAS leadership.