President Bola Tinubu has warned that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) would not accept any political instability in neighbouring Niger.
The statement came as reports indicated that Niger President Mohamed Bazoum is being detained by members of the Presidential Guard in what appeared to be a coup.
In a statement he personally penned down and distributed to State House Correspondents, Tinubu warned that ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa.
According to him, it should be quite clear to all players in the Republic of Niger that the leadership of the ECOWAS Region and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of the country.
“I am in close consultation with other leaders in our region, and we shall protect our hard-earned democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism.
“As the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order,” he stated.
