Adejoke Adebiyi
In a significant turn of events, the Nigerian Senate has chosen diplomacy over military intervention by rejecting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appeal to deploy troops to address the suspension of democracy in neighboring Niger Republic. The decision was made following a four-hour closed-door meeting on Saturday, where Senate members engaged in a thoughtful deliberation on the matter.
The Senate’s resolution marks a distinctive stance as it refrains from approving any military action, in line with President Tinubu’s role as the Chairman of ECOWAS. Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, elucidated that the President’s request was not for authorization to engage in warfare, but rather a plea for support in executing ECOWAS resolutions pertaining to the political situation in Niger Republic.
Speaking on the matter, Akpabio emphasized that President Tinubu should harness diplomatic channels to seek a resolution to the crisis. He further urged the President to rally other ECOWAS leaders in pursuing robust political and diplomatic avenues as a means of resolving the impasse.
Akpabio clarified, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief, did not seek parliamentary or Senate approval for a military intervention, as some reports have inaccurately suggested. Rather, he conveyed his respectful solicitation of support for the successful implementation of ECOWAS resolutions in his correspondence.”
The Senate leadership is now tasked with continued engagement with President Tinubu to explore the most effective strategies for resolving the crisis. As the Chairman of ECOWAS, the Senate calls upon the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to lead the charge in encouraging fellow ECOWAS leaders to prioritize and strengthen diplomatic avenues and alternative means in order to bring about a resolution to the ongoing crisis.
In this pivotal moment, Nigeria’s Senate has asserted its commitment to regional stability through diplomatic means, setting a precedent for resolving conflicts in the West African region.
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