‘Explore diplomatic options’ — senate advises Tinubu on military intervention in Niger

The senate has advised President Bola Tinubu to consider diplomatic options rather than military intervention in the Republic of Niger.

On Friday, Tinubu, who is the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), wrote to the national assembly about the military intervention in Niger, following the coup that removed President Mohamed Bazoum.

In the letter, Tinubu said the move to deploy military force was part of the bloc’s conclusions at the meeting held on Sunday in Abuja.

ECOWAS had given Niger a week from Sunday to reinstate Bazoum or face harder sanctions.

The regional body imposed sanctions on the coup leaders with Nigeria also cutting electricity supplies and closing its borders with the West African nation.

After a closed-door session on Saturday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the resolutions of the red chamber.

Akpabio said the senate condemned the coup and commended Tinubu and other heads of state for their prompt response and the positions taken on the situation.

He said the senate advised Tinubu to encourage other leaders of ECOWAS to deploy diplomatic options in addressing the situation in Niger.

“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,” Akpabio said.

“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 impasse in Niger Republic.

“The national assembly is committed 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.”

Akpabio added that the leadership of the senate is mandated to further engage with the president on how best to resolve the issue “given the existing cordial relationship 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 compass as soon as possible,” he added.