President Bola Tinubu yesterday in Nairobi, Kenya, called on African leaders to respect democracy and rule of law, and ensure political stability.
He said this at a high-level event organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the margins of Fifth Mid-Year African Union (AU) Coordination Meeting.
The President urged African military institutions and States to recognise and respect the need for democratic renewal.
Tinubu, who is also the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, said coup d’état should be discouraged in the continent, especially in the face of challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, insecurity, and climate change.
The President, in his statement, presented by Ambassador Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, decried that West Africa, in spite of its numerous instruments and mechanisms for promoting democracy and good governance, is leading other regions in the use of unconstitutional means to change governments.
He warned that the ugly trend of the military straying into the political arena is causing threats to peace, security and stability, and engendering poverty, displacement, and humanitarian crisis.
Reiterating that Africa has no intention of regressing on its democratic gains and credentials, as well as its maturing democratic political culture.
While acknowledging that democracy may present challenges in terms of management and dynamics, Tinubu reiterated that it is the best form of government for 21st-century Africa.
