The Leader of the ECOWAS delegation to Niger Republic, retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar, says he has delivered the message by the military junta to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This is as he expressed hope that diplomacy and not war would prevail as stakeholders brainstorm to find a lasting solution to the coup in Niger Republic.
The former Nigerian Military Head of State made this known to newsmen on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after a meeting convened by the President, who is the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The meeting was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, Malam Nuhu Ribadu.
General Abubakar, who had over the last weekend held a meeting with the ousted President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, and the leaders of the junta in the country, said he had delivered the terms of the Abdouramane Tchiani-led junta to ECOWAS.
According to him, correspondences had begun between the West African regional bloc and the military in Niger.
He said the line of contact opened by ECOWAS through his appointment as envoy had been very fruitful, expressing hope that something concrete would soon come out of it.
“As you are aware, the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government have made me an envoy to Niger Republic and we were there over the weekend to see the military people and discussed to find a way out of the lacuna we find ourselves.
“So, that’s why I’m here this afternoon, together with the President of the ECOWAS Commission, to give a report back to Mr. President on our discussions in Niger. I must say that our visit to Niger has been very fruitful and that it has opened an avenue to start talking and hopefully we’ll get somewhere,” he said.
