The ECOWAS Chairman and Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu says negotiations are still ongoing with the military leaders in Niger Republic as the regional bloc seeks to re-establish democratic governance in a manner that addresses the political and economic challenges confronting the nation.
President Tinubu made this known while addressing the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in the early hours of Wednesday.
Affirming his position on democratic values, the Nigerian leader said that democratic governance remains the best guarantor of the sovereign will and well-being of the people.
The Nigerian Leader denounced the Military coups saying the wave crossing parts of Africa does not demonstrate favour towards coups but rather a demand for solutions to perennial problems.
He asserted that Military coups are wrong.
“We must affirm democratic governance as the best guarantor of the sovereign will and well-being of the people. Military coups are wrong, as is any tilted civilian political arrangement that perpetuates injustice.”
“Regarding Niger, we are negotiating with the military leaders. As Chairman of ECOWAS, I seek to help re-establish democratic governance in a manner that addresses the political and economic challenges confronting that nation, including the violent extremists who seek to foment instability in our region. I extend a hand of friendship to all who genuinely support this mission.
The ECOWAS Chairman, President Tinubu further said that the prosperity of Africa has been hampered due to broken promises, unfair treatment and outright exploitation from abroad.
He added that these have exacted a heavy toll on the ability of Africa to progress.
“Many proclamations have been made, yet our troubles remain close at hand. Failures in good governance have hindered Africa. But broken promises, unfair treatment and outright exploitation from abroad have also exacted a heavy toll on our ability to progress.
“Given this long history, if this year’s theme is to mean anything at all, it must mean something special and particular to Africa.”
Recalling the founding memories of the United Nations, President Tinubu said that the UN was established as a symbol and protector of humankind’s aspirations and finest ideals.
He said that the Second World War played a major role that represented a highwater mark for trust in global institutions and the belief that humanity had learned the necessary lessons to move forward in global solidarity and harmony.
“Today and for several decades, Africa has been asking for the same level of political commitment and devotion of resource that described the Marshall Plan,” he said.
“We realise that underlying conditions and causes of the economic challenges facing today’s Africa are significantly different from those of post-war Europe.”
Dominica Nwabufo
