Razaq Bamidele
A civil society organisation, Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate (CPPM), has thrown its support behind the stand of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), commending the sub-region’s stand on the crisis in the Niger Republic.
The group, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Ekujumi, commended the ECOWAS) for its extraordinary meeting on Niger Republic held in Abuja Nigeria on 10th August 2023, saying, “we wholly align with the communiqué of the meeting which affirmed its July 30, 2023 communiqué of any means necessary including the use of force to restore democracy and the rule of law in the West African country.”
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Rising from its observatory role at the ECOWAS extraordinary meeting Thursday in Abuja, CPPM noted with sadness and pain, the intransigent attitude of the military junta in Niger Republic in rebuffing all conciliatory and peace moves by the regional organizations like the ECOWAS, AU and all genuine lovers of peaceful resolution of the illegal takeover of power.
The group used the occasion of this press statement to call on persons, interests and groups who are sympathetic to the unconstitutional takeover of political power through treasonable military coup in Niger Republic, but masquerading as lovers of peace and haranguing the Nigeria led ECOWAS not to deploy the use of force if diplomacy fails, to redirect their hypocrisy and mischief in advising the military junta in Niger Republic to either peacefully surrender and hand over the reins of power to the democratically elected government of the country or be prepared for military action because the unconstitutional usurpation of power will not be allowed to stand.
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According to the statement, these latter day advocates of peace without recourse to law and order, need to be informed and educated that the action of the coup executors is in total violations of the constitution of the Republic of Niger which states that political power can only be assumed through the ballot box and not the barrel of the gun, “so we wonder how these mischievous and misguided interests can be advocating for peace without justice”.
CPPM notes the cultural, religious, trade, family and other ties between West African States and affirms that in the larger and longer interest of the peace, stability and progress of the community, the military coup must not be allowed to stand, else security, peace, stability and democracy not only in West Africa, but in sub-Saharan Africa will be imperiled.
The organisation commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) of Nigeria for his leadership quality in galvanizing the sub-region for a quick return to constitutional democracy in Niger Republic and thus showcasing that the long awaited expectations on Nigeria by the world to provide leadership for the emancipation of the African continent on all fronts is here.