Nigeria’s Intervention Team comprising prominent Islamic scholars in the country, approved by President Bola Tinubu a few days ago met with the coup leaders in Niger where both parties agreed to intensify the option of dialogue in resolving the political crisis in that country.
NTA reported that, the Islamic Ulammas led by Sheik Abdullahi Bala Lau met with General Abdourahmane Tchiani for several hours in Niger’s capital Niamey during which they deliberated on all the issues including the demand by ECOWAS leaders that former President Bazoum be reinstated.
Sheikh Bala Lau stated in a statement that the delegation had earlier communicated with President Tinubu, who also serves as the Chairman of the authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, to express their position in favor of dialogue as a means of resolving the political deadlock in Niger.
Therefore, he informed General Tchiani that the purpose of his trip to Niger was to participate in productive discussion in order to persuade him and the other military figures who were involved in the coup to choose the route of peace rather than violence in order to end the problem.
General Tchiani responded, giving the team a warm welcome and praising their action.
He declared that they were willing to consider using diplomacy and peace to settle the conflict.
However, General Tchiani claimed that the coup leaders were hurt that the ECOWAS leaders did not hear their side of the story before giving them a deadline to resign.
He asserted that the coup was well-intentioned and that it was carried out to stave off a threat that was about to strike both Nigeria and the Niger Republic.
Additionally, he expressed regret for not paying the needed attention to the President Tinubu-sent delegation, which was led by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), as a result of their ire over the ECOWAS ultimatum.
He outlined the historical connections between the two countries and stated that Nigeria and the Niger Republic were not just close neighbors but also brothers and sisters who ought to settle disputes amicably.
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