The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) must take proactive steps to prevent coups d’etat in the sub-region, and even on the continent, because the unconstitutional seizure of power in any shape or form is simply unacceptable and has no place in the 21st century, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
Prof. Osinbajo stated this while representing President Buhari yesterday at a virtual Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS member-states on the political developments in the Republics of Guinea & Mali.
Stating Nigeria’s position on the unfortunate development in Guinea, VP said, “I join all well-meaning global leaders to express in the strongest terms the condemnation of the Government of Nigeria of this unconstitutional change of Government; a development that could seriously destabilize the Republic of Guinea.”
According to the VP, “the unconstitutional seizure of power in any shape or form is simply unacceptable”.
While expressing concern, Prof. Osinbajo went ahead to table an idea which the Chairman of ECOWAS and President of Ghana later described as “a proposal of great weight.”
According to the Nigerian VP, “Could we, for example, work out an understanding with the UN, AU, Commonwealth and possibly, even the development finance institutions we are a part of to act in unity to suspend a country where there has been a seizure of power from all these bodies simultaneously?”
VP urged ECOWAS “to immediately appoint a Mediator to lead the region’s genuine engagement with the military junta, all political actors, and civil society groups in Guinea towards finding a lasting solution that will return the country to democratic rule.”
Speaking on the update on the situation in Mali, VP commended former President Goodluck “for his continued commitment & engagement with the various stakeholders in Mali.”
The VP then emphasized that “Nigeria will continue to closely monitor the situations in Guinea and Mali”.
