Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on
media and publicity, says the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) is determined to ensure that democratic rule returns to Niger
Republic.
Ngelale spoke during an interview with Al Jazeera on Tuesday
evening, while reacting to concerns that Niger’s junta had defied the ECOWAS
deadline.
ECOWAS had threatened the use of force if the junta did not
adhere to the deadline which elapsed on Sunday.
Ngelale said narratives bordering on ECOWAS’ ability to
restore order in Niger are merely speculative.
He said the bloc’s additional sanctions on the landlocked
West African country are proof that the commission is focused on a diplomatic
approach before resorting to the use of force as a last option.
Tinubu, ECOWAS chairperson, earlier asked the Central Bank
of Nigeria (CBN) to impose financial sanctions on individuals and entities
believed to be supporting the military junta in the Francophone country.
“Let us be clear, there has been a firm ultimatum that was
based on a mandate that has been backed by ECOWAS protocols which have been in
place for years and the ECOWAS member heads of state will not back down from
upholding the protocols as agreed by all member states,” Ngelale said.
“We will be fully
committed as we have been throughout this process to upholding the ECOWAS
protocols with respect to how the ECOWAS member states will handle the
illegitimate overthrow of constitutional order in any of the ECOWAS member
states.
“We are determined to ensure that civilian democratic
governance is sustained on the continent for the prosperity, security, and
development of the countries on our beloved continent.
“We are not taking the kind of simplistic approach that some
international media have chosen to take which is that ‘either you must go in or
you’re not serious or you stay out and you’re not serious,’ we do not accept
that simple narrative.
“What we are saying is that we have multiple levers on which
we can leverage to achieve the end that we are seeking to achieve which is to
uphold the ECOWAS protocols by ensuring that there is a return of civilian
democratic rule under the leadership of President Bazoum as duly elected by the
people of Niger Republic.
“Now, whether that
happens today or next week or next month we will see, but we are determined to
leverage on all elements of our power regionally to ensure that happens and
that is not limited only to military intervention.
“Although military intervention has not and will not be
taken off the table.”
ECOWAS is expected to meet on Thursday to draw up a plan on
how it will proceed.
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