Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, 14th Emir of Kano, has met with the coup leaders in Niger Republic.
The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) met the military leadership after the junta aborted a meeting with representatives of African Union (AU), Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and a top US diplomat.
A ECOWAS team could not broker peace with the military rulers because they refused to meet.
However, videos of Sanusi, whose Tijjaniya sect has a considerable following in Niger, circulated on Wednesday.
Sanusi is the Khalifa of the religion in Nigeria.
The respected Nigerian economist met with the Junta leaders in the company of the Sultan of Damagaran.
Damagaran is Niger’s third-largest city.
According to Daily Trust sources, Sanusi travelled there to open the way for negotiations with the junta.
According to one source, “His Highness took the trip in his personal capacity but with the knowledge of President Bola Tinubu following his concerns about the impasse and the likely consequences it is already having on Nigeria/Niger relations and the citizens of the two countries.”
The summit takes place a day before the ECOWAS leaders’ conference in Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu, the Chairman of ECOWAS, has arranged a meeting for Thursday after the regional bloc’s seven-day deadline for the reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum expired.
ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Niger and threatened military action, which was widely condemned, particularly in Nigeria.
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