The senate has rejected President Bola Tinubu’s plan for a military intervention to reinstate democratic governance in the Niger Republic.
The Nigerian president, who also serves as the head of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS), wrote to the national assembly on Friday, August 4, requesting assistance from the legislators for the implementation of ECOWAS resolutions regarding the political situation in the Niger Republic.
After two-hour deliberation behind closed doors on Saturday, August 5, the Senate advised President Tinubu against using military actions to force the coupists out of power.
Tinubu was advised to adopt diplomacy in addressing the toppling of democractic government Niger Republic. Announcing that they will be meeting the Nigerian leader over their resolution, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said;
“The Senate commends President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and other Heads of States and Governments of the ECOWAS for their prompt response and the position taken on the unfortunate development in Niger Republic.
“The Senate recognises the fact that President Tinubu by virtue of his correspondence has not asked for the approval of this Senate to go to war as being erroneously suggested in some quarters.
“Rather, the President and Commander in chief had ‘wished to respectively solicit the support of the National assembly in the successful implementation of the ECOWAS resolutions as outlined in the said communication’.
“The Senate calls on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as chairman of ECOWAS to further encourage other leaders of ECOWAS to strengthen the political and diplomatic options and other means with which to resolve the political impasse in Niger Republic.
“The National Assembly called on ECOWAS leadership under President Tinubu to resolve the political situation in Niger and return the country to democratic governance in the nearest future.
“The leadership of the senate is mandated to further engage the President and Commander in Chief on behalf of the senate and the national Assembly on how best to resolve the issue in view of the hitherto existing cordial relationship between Niger and Nigeria.“
