Senator Kawu, while speaking to reporters at an event in Kano on Sunday that was broadcast by AIT and monitored by SaharaReporters, revealed that President Tinubu had not formally requested approval from the Senate to mobilise Nigerian military personnel to go to war in Niger. CONTINUE READING>>>>>
A Senator representing Kano South in the 10th National Assembly, Senator Kawu Sumaila has said it will amount to another coup if President Bola Tinubu commits Nigeria to wage a war against Niger Republic coup leaders alongside other leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Senator Kawu, while speaking to reporters at an event in Kano on Sunday that was broadcast by AIT and monitored by SaharaReporters, revealed that President Tinubu had not formally requested approval from the Senate to mobilise Nigerian military personnel to go to war in Niger.
He said, “There is inconsistency in ECOWAS. They (ECOWAS) are there to protect democracy. Is it not what they are saying? Democracy is a constitutional government. Ours is a constitutional government. We (Senators) are constitutionally recognised by the Nigerian Constitution to give the president the approval to go to war. There was no request before us up till today.
“Therefore, we are waiting to see the matters they can do. If they are complaining against the military junta of Niger of going against the constitution, therefore, ECOWAS and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to go and start the war without the approval of the National Assembly is another coup to democracy.”
When asked if the lawmakers would approve the request if President Tinubu eventually sought the Senate’s approval to commit the Nigerian military to the proposed war, Sumaila said, “We will reject it, definitely we will not support it.”
SaharaReproters earlier reported that ECOWAS had rejected the three-year transition plan proposed by Niger’s military ruler General Abdourahamane Tchiani.
Abdourahamane Tchiani on Sunday said his government planned to return power to civilian rulers in the next three years.
Tchiani and others ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and seized power in a coup on July 26.
General Tchiani during a televised address on Saturday evening said neither the junta “nor the people of Niger want war and remain open to dialogue.”
He said the principles of the transition would be decided within the next 30 days as part of a national dialogue hosted by the junta and the transition itself “should last no longer than three years.”
Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, in an interview with BBC, described General Tchiani’s proposal as unacceptable.…… Continue Your Reading
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