President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has today, August 31st, 2023 assured the diplomatic peace ambassadors intervening in the Niger Junta that military action should be the last option for the Economic Community of West African State, ECOWAS. The president made this assertion when he received the delegation led by his Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III who paid him a courtesy visit at the state house today to brief him on their effort of the non-kinetic approach they embarked in the Niger Republic.
A statement released by the Special Adviser to president on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngilale, said, Tinubu admitted that any forceful removal of a democratically elected government remain “wholly unacceptable.”
The statement partly said, “I must thank you for your several visits to Niger Republic, Your Eminence, but you will still have to go back. My fear has been confirmed in Gabon that copycats will start doing the same thing until it is stopped. We are neighbours with Niger Republic, and what has joined Nigerians together with their great people cannot be broken.
“Nobody is interested in a war. We have seen the devastation in Ukraine and Sudan. But, if we don’t wield the big stick, we will all suffer the consequences together,” the President warned.
The president recalled that Nigeria during General Abdulsali Abubakar, they instituted a nine-month transition programme in 1998 and was successful, and therefore see no reason why that of Niger should take a longer time.
He therefore doubted the sincerity of the military junta about their 3years transition plan.
The president reiterated, “Your Eminence, please don’t get tired, you will still go back there. The soldiers’ action is unacceptable. The earlier they make positive adjustments, the quicker we will dial back the sanctions to alleviate the sufferings we are seeing in Niger,” the President affirmed.
Meanwhile, on the hardship currently being experienced by Nigerians due to removal of petrol subsidy, Tinubu assured that the ongoing reforms by his administration will surely yield a positive result that will fissile out the hardship for the majority of the population.
Tinubu said, “Nigeria is headed for a promise. Our diversity will turn into prosperity, not adversity. We will build a country that our children will be proud of.”
He revealed that the federal government is still open for open for talks concerning provision of land for proper animal husbandry of world class that will create more jobs and more revenue for the country.
More so, he added, “If Nigeria is still looking for vaccines for basic health issues; if infant and maternal mortality is rampant, then we should examine ourselves. I will commit to consulting with other leaders, like the NSCIA, and we will meet the needs of our people.”
In his contribution, Vice president Kashim Shettima said that their government have budgeted the sum of N50billion naira to support the ongoing rebuilding of lives and properties in the North-east and the North-west that, with the view of forging a new dialogue to address security challenges.a
Accordingly, the Sultan pledge a hundred percent loyalty to the president saying only God provides power through people.
He assured the president that the council would always be available for advice that will move the country forward that will push the president live up to his expectation reminding him that “God will hold all leaders to account, in justice and fairness.”
The Sultan called on the president that the distribution of palliatives across the country should be closely monitored and augmented, where it fails to reach some of the people who remain in dire need.
“I honestly believe we will come out of the challenges stronger,” the Sultan of Sokoto concluded.
