…Says coups will no longer be tolerated in West Africa
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday returned to Abuja after a two-day trip to Guinea Bissau for the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS).
Tinubu told the leaders in the sub-region that under his leadership, the commission will take democracy seriously.
The new Chairman of the sub-regional body also said coups will no longer be allowed in the West African region under his leadership as chairperson of the sub-regional bloc, ECOWAS.
“We will not allow coup after coup in the West African sub-region. We will take this up seriously with the African Union, European, America and Britain,” he said in his acceptance speech adding that “we will take it up, it is a challenge.”
Recall that between August 2020 and now, five coups have occurred in three West African countries – Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea with attempts in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau foiled. Also, Nigeria’s neighbour, Chad, had an unconstitutional change of government led by Lieutenant-General Mahamat Idriss Déby after his father’s death in 2021.
Tinubu noted that although democracy is very tough to manage, it is the best form of government and countries of the region should ascribe to it.
“I make a pledge here that in furtherance of our region’s economic recovery and growth, we will commit to democracy and promote democracy and the rule of law. I am with you and Nigeria, we are back”, he pledged.
President Tinubu warned that the threat to peace in the sub-region had reached an alarming proportion with terrorism and an emerging pattern of military takeover that now demand urgent and concerted actions from member states.
Tinubu, who emerged as the new chairperson of ECOWAS at the regional body’s summit held in Guinea-Bissau on Sunday, took over from the President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Embalo, who finished his tenure at the ECOWAS 63rd Ordinary Session.
The summit is the first international engagement of President Tinubu on the African continent since his swearing-in on 29 May.
