The President of Nigeria and Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Bola Tinubu, has reacted to a coup attempt possibly ongoing at the presidential palace in Niamey, Niger Republic.
Niger President, Mohamed Bazoum, is being detained by members of the Presidential Guard.
According to President Tinubu, ECOWAS leadership is monitoring the development and will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically elected government of the country.
He said, “It should be quite clear to all players in the Republic of Niger that the leadership of the ECOWAS Region and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically elected government of the country.
“The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa.
“I wish to say that we are closely monitoring the situation and developments in Niger and we will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region.
“I am in close consultation with other leaders in our region, and we shall protect our hard-earned democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism.
“As the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order.”
Meanwhile, Niger’s presidency said in a statement on Wednesday that some members of the presidential guard had started an anti-republican movement in vain and that the army and national guard were ready to attack those involved in the mood swing if the movement did not end.
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