President Bola Tinubu has expressed his displeasure with the unfolding “mutiny” scenario in Niger Republic.
Tinubu stated that the organisation will not tolerate acts that undermine democracy in the region.
The president made this statement as the chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Earlier, TheCable had reported a heavy military presence in the presidential palace in Niamey, Niger’s capital city.
President Mohamed Bazoum was said to be held hostage by soldiers and denied access to his office and residence.
Tinubu said in a statement that the ECOWAS leadership will not tolerate any situation that paralyses Niger’s democratically elected government.
“The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa,”
“I wish to say that we are closely monitoring the situation and developments in Niger. We will do everything to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region.”
‘Nigeria stands firmly with Niger’
The president stated that he was in close consultation with other regional leaders and promised to defend “our hard-earned democracy in accordance with the universally accepted principle of constitutionalism.”
“As the chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Nigeria and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order,” he said.
Niger is one of the world’s most unstable countries, having experienced four coups since its independence from France in 1960.