President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will continue its efforts to persuade the military regimes in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to rejoin the organization.
“We will do everything to extend a hand of friendship to them and provide reasons for their return,” stated Tinubu, who currently serves as the chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. He made these remarks during a meeting with ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff on Friday in Abuja.
Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, disclosed the details of the meeting in a statement released on Friday evening titled “ECOWAS’ Hand of Friendship Still Open to Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, Says President Tinubu.”
These comments from President Tinubu come nearly three weeks after he hinted at plans for a special extraordinary session to discuss the future of the economic bloc. On Friday, Tinubu emphasized the importance of enhancing security and defending constitutional governance within the region.
“It is our priority to ensure that security is strengthened and that constitutional government is upheld and promoted across our region,” Tinubu said. “It has been a challenging period since three members signaled their departure. We will do everything possible to bring them back, one way or another. No single leader is wiser than the collective heads gathered here.”
President Tinubu also praised the defence chiefs for their dedication to regional stability and the protection of constitutional governance. He reaffirmed the commitment of ECOWAS member states to investing in the $2.6 billion Standby Force, which he described as a crucial tool in combating terrorism in the Sahel region.
“The solution to terrorism and other challenges lies in our collective efforts. The ECOWAS Standby Force must be prepared,” Tinubu stated. “We will continue to invest in this initiative, as well as in fostering economic prosperity and opportunities throughout our region.”
For more updates, join our WhatsApp channel here.