A delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) led by former Nigerian military head of state, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) has arrived in Niger Republic.
OsunDailyNG reports the delegation, which also includes the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III is in Niger for a fresh round of negotiations with the military junta in the country under the leadership of General Abdourahmane Tchiani.
See some of their photos.
As earlier reported by OsunDailyNG, a plane carrying the delegation landed in the capital, Niamey at around 1200 pm on Saturday ahead of talks to return the country to democratic rule.
A source close to the latest delegation told newsmen that the ECOWAS representatives would send “a message of firmness” to the army officers and meet Bazoum.
Niger’s governing military council has also confirmed the arrival of the ECOWAS delegation.
Why We Refused To See Gen Abubakar And Sultan Of Sokoto – General Abdourahmane Tchiani
The leader of the military junta in Niger Republic, General Abdourahmane Tchiani has explained why they refused to see the delegation sent by President Bola Tinubu in the wake of the military coup in the country.
He said at that point they were angry.
OsunDailyNG recalls as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Tinubu had dispatched a delegation to Niger to end the ongoing political crisis.
The delegation was led by former Nigerian military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar, and included the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Omar Alieu Touray.
However, the military coup leaders refused to see the delegation, and the members were forced to depart empty-handed.
Speaking in a statement on Sunday (last week) after their own meeting with the coup leaders in Niger, the national leader of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau who led a delegation of Nigerian Islamic scholars to negotiate with the junta leaders said General Tchiani narrated that they were hungry.
According to him, General Tchiani explained that it was painful that ECOWAS did not even try to hear their side of the story before ordering sanctions against them and issuing an ultimatum for them to leave office.
The coup leader added that they were angry but he however apologized to President Tinubu.
