By Enyichukwu Enemanna
In response to the forceful take over of power in Niger by the military, Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will host a special meeting of the regional leaders on Sunday, July 30th, in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.
Dele Alake, Special Adviser to Tinubu on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, announced this in a statement on Friday.
The coup in Niger has jeopardised constitutional political leadership in the West Africa country as the country’s leader, Mohamed Bazoum is still held in detention where he is reportedly in “good condition”.
Tinubu, the Nigerian President has since condemned the coup, saying the ECOWAS sub-regional bloc is doing everything within its power to ensure restoration of democracy.
According to Alake, Tinubu in his capacity as Chairman of ECOWAS, had in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, condemned the current political situation in the neighbouring country and promised that ECOWAS and the international community would do everything to defend democracy and ensure democratic governance continues to take firm root in the sub-region.
Presidential spokesman added that US Vice President Kamala Harris and United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, in separate telephone calls on Thursday evening with President Tinubu affirmed the support of the US and UN for the position taken by ECOWAS and the Nigerian leader to restore constitutional order in Niger.
Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani had on Friday declared himself the new leader of Niger after the dramatic power take-over.
Also known as Omar Tchiani, he staged the coup-de-tat which started on Wednesday when the presidential guards unit he led seized the country’s leader, Bazoum.
Gen Tchiani, 62, has been in charge of the presidential guard since 2011 and was promoted to the rank of general in 2018 by former President Mahamadou Issoufou.
