President Bola Tinubu says ECOWAS will continue to persuade the military leaders of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to return their nations to the fold.
President Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, reaffirmed this position at a meeting with ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff on Friday in Abuja.
A statement by Presidential Spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale quoted the President as saying the body would continue to ”make sure that security is enhanced and that constitutional government is defended and promoted in our region.
”It has been a challenging tenure for me since three members indicated their exit. We will work hard to persuade them to return, whichever way.
”No one man is smarter than the group of heads that is here. We will do everything to offer a hand of friendship to them and give them reasons to come back to us,” the President said.
In his remarks, General Christopher Musa, the Chairman ECOWAS Chief of Defence Staff, informed the President that the defence chiefs had agreed that challenges in the region, such as insurgency and unconstitutional changes in government, must be addressed collectively.
He announced that a decision had been made to deploy 1,200 troops to Sierra Leone, with countries making pledges to support this effort.
