Senate refuses Tinubu’s plea to send troops to Niger

After a closed-door session that lasted nearly two hours, the Nigerian Senate has addressed the political quagmire in Niger Republic. In response to the letter written by President Bola Tinubu on the decisions taken by ECOWAS regarding the situation, the Senate urged the regional body to employ diplomatic and political means to resolve the political crisis in Niger Republic.

While condemning the Niger coup in its entirety, the Senate appreciated the prompt response and positions taken by President Bola Tinubu and other Heads of State of ECOWAS regarding the unfortunate development in Niger Republic.

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, clarified that President Tinubu’s correspondence did not seek approval from the Senate to go to war, contrary to misconceptions in some quarters. Instead, President Tinubu expressed a wish to respectfully seek the support of the National Assembly in implementing ECOWAS resolutions.

The Senate called on President Muhammadu Buhari, as the chairman of ECOWAS, to encourage other regional leaders to explore political and diplomatic options to resolve Niger Republic’s political compass and restore democratic governance promptly.

The Senate also tasked its leadership to engage with President Buhari on behalf of the entire National Assembly to find the best approach to address the issue, considering the longstanding cordial relationship between Nigerians and Nigerien citizens.

Additionally, the Senate urged the ECOWAS parliament to condemn the coup and propose swift solutions to resolve the crisis. The Senate believes that a coordinated effort from the regional body will aid in stabilizing Niger Republic and restoring peace and democratic governance in the country as soon as possible.