President Bola Tinubu.
By Mark Longyen
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has called on ECOWAS leaders to constructively dialogue towards finding enduring solutions that would lead to sustainable peace and security, as well as stability in the subregion.
The President stated this while declaring open the extraordinary session of ECOWAS Summit on peace, political and security situation in the region held in Abuja on Saturday.
He also urged the summit participants to engage in constructive dialogue and exercise prudent judgement on the announced threat of withdrawal from ECOWAS by Mali, B/Faso and Niger, as well as the political crisis in Guinea and Senegal.
He said: “Your presence here today in large numbers has once again demonstrated your unflinching commitment to the sustenance of regional integration with all its ingredients for the promotion of good governance. Peace, security, stability and socio-economic development.
“Once more, we are gathered here to address pressing developments in our sub-region surrounding the peace and security, as well as the political situations in the Republics of Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali.
“Accordingly, it is incumbent upon us to engage in constructive dialogue, exercise prudent judgement, and work collectively towards finding enduring solutions that will lead to sustainable peace and security, as well as political stability in our region.”
The President noted that the gravity of the prevailing responsibilities on ECOWAS leaders would not be overstated, adding that the challenges would only be addressed through concerted efforts and deep sense of history in the spirit of shared vision, solidarity and collective responsibilities.
He said that he was burdened by the weight of the challenges confronting the subregion, and was equally buoyed by the spirit of collective resolve that defined the ECOWAS community.
The President stressed that the extraordinary summit was convened at a critical juncture that demanded the focused attention of the ECOWAS leaders on regional issues.
“In the course of this Summit, therefore, we would receive a Memorandum from the ECOWAS Commission President on the peace, security and political situation in the region. The Memorandum will give us an update on the current situation in the Republics of Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger.
“On that note, our decisions must be guided by our commitment to safeguarding the constitutional order, upholding democratic principles, and promoting the social and economic well-being of the citizens of the aforementioned countries.
“Furthermore, we will deliberate on the announced withdrawal from ECOWAS by the Republics of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. In the spirit of collective security and African solidarity, we realize that the stability of these nations is intricately linked to the overall peace and security of West Africa,” he said.
President Tinubu stressed that the ECOWAS leaders should engage in constructive deliberations to examine the actions taken by the four countries, which are currently under military rule, to ensure that their citizens were not denied the benefits derived from regional integration initiatives.
He added that the summit discussions must put the plight of the ordinary citizens of these countries at the centre of all decisions.
President Tinubu said that the summit participants should also brainstorm on the recent decision by the Constitutional Council of Senegal to annul the postponement of the country’s electoral process.
“We commend our brother, President Macky Sall, for agreeing to abide by the Court’s decision to organize election as soon as possible and to step down in line with the rule of law. We must all commend his courage and statesmanship as we wish him the very best in his future endeavours,” he said.
Tinubu noted that, though the challenges were daunting, they presented an opportunity for ECOWAS to reaffirm its commitment to the vision of its founding fathers and the principles underpinning its commitment to peace, security, and regional integration.
He stressed that ECOWAS must stand united in its resolve to promote economic integration, democracy, and human rights, with a view to fostering sustainable development across all its member states.
“Times like we currently face in our subregion demand that we take difficult but courageous decisions that put the plight of our people at the centre of our deliberations.
“Democracy is nothing more than the political framework and the path to addressing the basic needs and aspirations of the people. This is why we must re-examine our current approach to the quest for constitutional order in four of our Member States.
“I therefore urge them to re-consider the decision of the three of them to exit their home and not to perceive our organization as the enemy,” he said.
The President expressed confidence that through collective efforts and determination, the West African leaders would navigate the challenges before them and chart a course towards a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous subregion.(NAN)
