From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
The Senate has called on Nigeria’s President and other leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to explore Political and Diplomatic options to resolve the political crisis following a recent coup d’état and the ouster of a democratically-elected administration of Mohamed Bazoum.
At the resumption of its plenary on Saturday the Senate President Godswill Akpabio read out the resolutions of its executive session, the option for Military action was rejected by the Lawmakers but rather sought for extensive consultations with the President.
President Tinubu who is Chairman of ECOWAS had in a letter addressed to the Senate on Friday sought for the Senate’s request to implement the resolutions of the organisation. In the communique the President also stressed the need for “cutting off electricity supply to Niger Republic; Mobilising international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communiqué; preventing the operation of commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic; blockade of goods in transit to Niger especially from Lagos and eastern seaports; embarking on sensitization of Nigerians and Nigeriens on the imperative of these actions, particularly via social media; and military build-up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant”.
However, the Senate in response to Tinubu’s request commended the President and other heads of states and Governments of ECOWAS for their prompt response and the positions but struck out Military invasion as means to return the country to democracy.
The Senate condemned in totality the Military coup that took place recently in the Republic of Niger and urged for deeper consultations with the President to explore other means to resolve the impasse.
Part of the resolutions read; “The Senate recognises the fact that the President by virtue of his correspondence had not asked for the approval of the Parliament or approval of this Senate to go to war as being erroneously suggested in some quarters, rather Mr. President and commander in Chief has expressed a wish to respectfully solicit the support of the National Assembly in the successful implementation of the ECOWAS resolutions as outlined in the said communications.
“The Senate calls on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as chairman of ECOWAS to further encourage other leaders of ECOWAS strengthen the Political and Diplomatic options and other means to resolving the Political impasse in Niger Republic.
“The Senate pledges the total support of the Senate and by extension the National Assembly to the ECOWAS leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in resolving the Political situation in Niger and returning the country to a Democratic dispensation in the Nearest future.
“The leadership of the Senate is mandated to further engage with the President and Commander in Chief, President Tinubu on behalf of the Senate and the National Assembly on how best to resolve the issue in view of the hitherto existing cordial relationship between Nigerians and Nigerians.
The Senate also called on the ECOWAS parliament to rise to the occasion by equally condemning this coup and also positing solutions to resolve this impasse as soon as possible.
According to a senator who attended the meeting, senators agreed to pass a resolution condemning the coup and to commend ECOWAS leaders on their efforts to restore constitutional order in Niger, but they ruled out military options.
“Almost all the senators spoke and totally ruled out the military options because of many factors and also because of the harmonious relationship that Nigeria and Niger has always enjoyed.
“Senators instead urged President Tinubu to intensify negotiation with the coup leaders by again sending a high-powered delegation to Niamey. Someone suggested that elderstatemen like Obasanjo, Gen Ali Gusau and Abdulsalam Abubakar should be sent as special envoys to dialogue and seek a diplomatic solution.