The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi has urged leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to prioritize dialogue and diplomacy in its effort to restore democracy in Niger Republic.
Channels TV report that, The West African bloc has been grappling with restoring political order in Niger following the toppling and detention of President Mohamed Bazoum by the military on July 26.
The ECOWAS organisation ordered the deployment of its standby force to restore democracy in the West African country during its most recent extraordinary conference on Niger on Thursday in Abuja, Nigeria.
But in response, Obi said on Sunday in a message to his Twitter account that “diplomacy must remain the overarching imperative in resolving the present crisis.”
Channels TV report that, According to the former governor of Anambra State, it is crucial to give the Nigerese people the chance to quickly transition to a representative democratic administration through their national institutions.
While acknowledging that ECOWAS must work to prevent the establishment of military dictatorships in West Africa, Obi insisted that international diplomatic methods must be used to reduce the use of armed deterrence.
The statement stated, “Recent events in the nearby Niger Republic have drawn attention from around the world. This event has severe and urgent implications for Nigeria’s national security.
Niger is unavoidably a contentious topic for ECOWAS and a number of international interlocutors. Regardless of the stances adopted by various parties with direct or indirect interests in Niger, communication and diplomacy must take precedence in order to reach a solution with the least amount of disruption to Nigeria and the West African region.
“I commend Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, and His Royal Highness Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for their individual efforts as mediators. Although ECOWAS leaders have stated that they are still open to other conflict resolution solutions, diplomacy must continue to be the underlying necessity in ending the current issue.
“I join the many well-intentioned Nigerians who have argued that any crisis intervention should be done first and foremost through diplomatic conversation among all parties with a stake in the situation.
Ganandaji (
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