*Tasks US on defence of democracy in West Africa
*Niger junta puts troops on red alert
*Denies expelling Nigerian ambassador
*You have no authority to expel our ambassador, France tells junta
*Biden agrees to meet with Tinubu at UNGA
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has expressed his readiness to pursue Nigeria’s economic reforms policy to a logical conclusion despite the political crisis rocking the neighbouring Niger Republic.
Speaking while receiving in the audience at the State House, Abuja, the United States Presidential Envoy and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Molly Phee, the Nigerian President, who also doubles as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), emphasised that the crisis in Niger Republic would not deter him from concluding his economic reform programme successfully for the benefit of Nigerians.
But despite the clarification by ECOWAS that it has no plans to invade the Niger Republic in the aftermath of a coup, the junta has ordered the country’s armed forces to go on the highest alert, citing increasing threats of attack.
The junta has also denied expelling Nigerian Ambassador, Mohamed Usman, from the country just as France has said that the new military leaders have no authority to expel its ambassador to the country, Sylvain Itte.
President Tinubu, according to a statement issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, stressed that he takes a queue from no nation.
Tinubu said he would only advance the interest of the Nigerian state in his approach toward ECOWAS’ handling of the regional standoff.
“We are deep in our attempts to peacefully settle the issue in Niger by leveraging on our diplomatic tools. I continue to hold ECOWAS back, despite its readiness for all options, in order to exhaust all other remedial mechanisms. War is not ideal for my economic reforms, nor for the region, but the defence of democracy is sacrosanct. The ECOWAS consensus is that we will not allow anyone to insincerely buy time,” Tinubu explained.
The president also advised the US Presidential Envoy to ensure that US policy is intentionally collaborative with independent African democracies at a time when they are under assault by anti-democratic forces within and outside of the continent.
He noted that the American-backed development finance and multilateral institutions, which were designed to support war-torn Europe after World War II, require swift and comprehensive reform to meet the developmental requirements of younger democracies in Africa, which operate in authoritarian-crowded environments.
Tinubu argued that the legitimate yearnings of Africans should no longer be manipulated to serve the narrow aims of self-seeking demagogues through unconstitutional ta
keovers of power.
“Yes, the private sector will lead the way within an enabling environment we create for them, but the US Government must be innovative in its thinking and systematically create incentives for US industrial investment in Nigeria. Under my leadership, Nigeria stands ready to address its specific regulatory, tax and environmental concerns. I am determined to create prosperity for all Nigerian families,” Tinubu added.
Earlier in his speech, the US Special Presidential Envoy while pledging support for the position of ECOWAS, expressed the high regard the US Administration has for the leadership of the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Tinubu.
The envoy extended an exclusive invitation from US President Joe Biden to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City to advance discussions further in late September.
“We know there is more we can do to incentivise large-scale American investment in Nigeria and we are committed to working closely with you to achieve that, as part of efforts to strengthen the Nigerian economy and the regional economy. We appreciate your willingness to create an enabling environment for that. President Joe Biden is asking to meet with you on the sidelines of UNGA and you are the only African leader he has requested to meet. It is a mark of his high regard for your leadership,” the Special Envoy added.
Tinubu concluded that he accepted the invitation to meet the US President on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and that the work of perfecting democracy is never done, even in developed democracies, as seen recently in America, as well as other emerging democracies in the world.
Niger Junta Puts Troops on Red Alert
Meanwhile, the junta in Niger has put its armed forces on the highest alert, citing increasing threats of attack, according to an internal document issued weekend by its defence chief.
The document, which was released yesterday, said the order to be on maximum alert would allow forces to respond adequately in case of any attack and “avoid a general surprise.”
“Threats of aggression to the national territory are increasingly being felt,” it said.
ECOWAS, which has been trying to negotiate with the leaders of the July 26 coup, has said it is ready to deploy troops to restore constitutional order if diplomatic efforts fail.
On Friday, the regional bloc downplayed this threat and said it was “determined to bend backwards to accommodate diplomatic efforts,” although an intervention remained one of the options on the table.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let me state unequivocally that ECOWAS has neither declared war on the people of Niger nor is there a plan, as it is being purported, to invade the country, ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Alieu Touray, told reporters.
France: Niger Junta Has No Authority to Expel Our Ambassador
In a related development, France has said that the Niger junta has no authority to expel its ambassador to the country, Itte.
Niger military had on Friday given 48 hours ultimatum for Itte to vacate the country for refusing an invitation to meet with the junta-appointed foreign minister.
The Foreign Ministry said the actions of the French government were “contrary to the interests of Niger.”
But France said Niger’s “putschists have no authority” to expel its ambassador in Niamey, as quoted by Deutsche Welle.
“The putschists do not have the authority to make this request, the ambassador’s approval coming solely from the legitimate elected Nigerien authorities,” Paris said, adding: “We are constantly evaluating the security and operating conditions of our embassy.”
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, had on Thursday demanded the release of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum who was detained on July 26, 2023, by the coup plotters led by the former commander of Niger’s presidential guard, General Abdourahamane Tchiani.
The military leaders have accused Paris of planning to intervene militarily in Niger in order to reinstate Bazoum.
They also claimed that ECOWAS is in the pocket of France.
France has some 1,500 troops stationed in Niger to aid in fighting jihadist groups that have plagued the country.
Niger Junta Denies Expelling Nigerian Ambassador
In another development, the junta has denied expelling the Nigerian Ambassador, Usman.
Niger’s Foreign Affairs Ministry had on Friday reportedly released a statement, ordering the expulsion of Usman alongside some Western diplomats.
The statement said: “In reaction to Nigerian Ambassador Mohamed Usman’s refusal to reply to an invitation by the ministry for a discussion on Friday, August 25 at 11.30 a.m., and due to other actions of the Nigerian government contrary to Niger’s interests, the ministry is giving 48 hours to Mr. Mohamed Usman’s to leave the Nigerien territory.”
The same reason was also given for the expulsion of the German Ambassador to Niger, Olivier Schnakenberg.
But in yet another development, Niger’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has denied the first memo.
The ministry described the information as false, adding that only the Ambassador of France in Niger was declared persona non grata.
“Also, the ministry reminds those who are agitated and still doubt the expression of its sovereign will, that Niger does not need an authorisation or an interpretation of the Vienna Convention of 1961, to exercise its prerogatives and have Ambassador Sylvain Itte leave, after this 48-hour period ubur D Done in Niamey on August 25.”
A source in the Nigerian embassy in Niger said the junta was embarrassed by the reports of the unauthorised expulsion of Usman.
