….. Implores Ulamas to facilitate restoration of democratic Governance
Leyoo Ajeokun
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday,tasked Islamic scholar (Ulamas) on dialogue with the military junta in Niger republic to ensure democratic governance in the country,the president added that he was under pressure owing the fact that some countries are ready with their military forces on contributions to tame the crisis in the country.
President Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government had previously engaged in discussions to facilitate the restoration of constitutional democratic governance in Niger Republic, to expedite progress in their ongoing dialogue with the military junta.
Tinubu lamented he was managing a critical situation and that he was the one holding back the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, heads of State and government
The President in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said: “I am managing a very serious situation. If you take ECOWAS aside, other people will react, those who are outside of our control. I am the one holding those sides back. I am the one holding back ECOWAS. “
On the urgency of the situation, he said: ‘’Even as at this morning, I have been inundated with phone calls on the readiness of countries with their military force and contributions. However, I told them to wait. I am meeting with the Ulamas and I will get back to you.”
The Islamic clerics under the umbrella of Ulama’a, yesterday, briefed President Bola Tinubu on their meetings with the military junta and disclosed that the President has sent them back to Niamey to continue their diplomatic efforts to resolve the political crisis in the Sahel country.
The Islamic clerics, comprising different Islamic sects, after the meeting, insisted that they don’t want war or any military action in the country that shared boundaries with Nigeria.
The military led by Abdourahamane Tchiani had on July 26, dethroned the democratically elected Niger President, in a bloodless coup.
But authorities of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS heads of State and government have insisted that the deposed President should be reinstated “ECOWAS, which has President Tinubu as its Chairman had announced many sanctions against the military junta, including military actions if they failed to reinstate the democratically elected government.
At their second meeting with the President, the Islamic clerics led by Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, maintained their initial position of resolving the political crisis amicably without the use of military might.
President Tinubu had mandated them to go back to Niger to continue the negotiations with the junta
The delegation led by Sheikh Bauchi, met with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja to brief him on their dialogue with the military junta in Niger Republic on behalf of ECOWAS
After the meeting with President Tinubu, Sheikh Bauchi, who spoke to State House correspondents, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to meet with the President.
He said: “We thank Allah for giving us the opportunity and we appreciate and commend the efforts of the President and as you saw, we have just met with him and told him all what went on there in Niger and he appreciated and he still gave us the mandate that we should continue to make this dialogue and discuss with the junta over there, because they gave us listening ears and we are sure, through peaceful discussions, we’ll be able to achieve what we want.
“We are still going back there to ensure that through peaceful and amicable ways, as spiritual leaders, we’ll be able to do and contribute what we can be able to do.
“What we want? We don’t want war, we want peace to reign in our region. So may Allah continue to bless the President for giving us this opportunity.”