Abuja, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu, during a meeting with the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, led by His Eminence Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, at the State House in Abuja, called upon the military regime in Niger Republic to expedite the return to civilian rule within nine months. Tinubu asserted that “nine months is enough for the Niger military junta to return the country to civilian rule” after seizing power from President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, issued a statement quoting Tinubu, who also serves as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He remarked, “if Nigeria could successfully return to democracy in 1999 through a nine-month program led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, there is no reason such could not be replicated by Niger coup leaders.”
Tinubu emphasized that ECOWAS sanctions imposed on Niger Republic would only be lifted upon witnessing “positive adjustments” by the military junta.
Furthermore, Tinubu expressed concerns over recent coups in the region, particularly citing the coup in Gabon. He said, “My fear has been confirmed in Gabon that copycats will start doing the same thing until it is stopped. We are neighbors with Niger Republic, and what has joined Nigerians together with their great people cannot be broken.” He also stressed the importance of avoiding armed conflict, highlighting the devastation seen in Ukraine and Sudan.
It’s worth noting that the military regime in Niger had proposed a three-year transition plan to restore democracy, a proposal rejected by ECOWAS, which insists on the immediate surrender of power.
