The leaders of the Niger Republic coup have consented to begin talks with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) about the nation’s present political climate….CONTINUE READING...CONTINUE READING
This is based on the results of negotiations between a delegation of Nigerian Islamic academics led by Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, national leader of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), and the coup leaders, commanded by General Abdourahmane Tchiani.
The two groups met on Saturday in Niamey to address the political issue in the Niger Republic, as Naija News has previously reported.
Following the discussions, Prime Minister of the Niger Republic Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine was quoted as saying that General Tchiani had approved of the talks with ECOWAS and was confident they would happen soon.
He also voiced hope for the lifting of the country’s sanctions.
“We have reached a consensus, and the president of our nation has approved of the dialogue. They will now return and let the President of Nigeria know what they learned from us. We anticipate them (ECOWAS) visiting us in the near future to talk about how the sanctions put in place against us would be lifted, he added.
Furthermore, Tchiani informed them that the coup leaders were willing to negotiation in order to resolve the problem, according to a statement by the head of the Nigerian Ulamas, Sheikh Lau, made accessible to journalists in Abuja on Sunday.
The statement claims that the Islamic clerics met with the coup leaders for many hours and came to an understanding to consider dialogue as a possible course of action.
“Nigeria’s Intervention Team, which is made up of notable Islamic scholars from the nation, met with the coup leaders over the weekend in Niger, where all parties decided to increase the possibility of dialogue in order to resolve the political issue there.
“General Abdourahmane Tchiani and the Islamic Ulammas, led by Sheik Bala Lau, had a lengthy discussion on all the issues, including the demand from the ECOWAS leaders for the reinstatement of former President Bazoum.
Bala Lau, the National Chairman of Jamatul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, claimed that President Bola Tinubu, who had agreed to the clerics’ plea for intervention, had sent the clerics to Niger.
“Sheik Lau said the team had earlier communicated their opinion that the political impasse in Niger be resolved through discussion to President Tinubu, who is also the Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.
Therefore, he explained to General Tchiani that the purpose of the trip to Niger was to engage in productive discussion in order to persuade him and other military figures who were involved in the coup to choose the route of peace rather than violence to end the crisis.In response, General Tchiani warmly greeted the team and praised their efforts.
He declared that they were willing to consider using diplomacy and peace to settle the conflict.General Tchiani, however, claimed that the coup leaders found it difficult that the ECOWAS leaders did not hear their side of the story before giving them an ultimatum to resign.
He asserted that the coup was well-intentioned and that it was carried out to avert a threat that would have affected both Nigeria and the Niger Republic.Additionally, he expressed regret for not giving the delegation sent by President Tinubu, which was led by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), the attention they needed because they were upset about the ECOWAS ultimatum.
The release states that “while tracing the historical ties between the two countries, he said Niger Republic and Nigeria were not only neighbors but brothers and sisters who should resolve differences amicably….CONTINUE READING
