Ajuri Ngelale, spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu has revealed that while President Bola Tinubu-led ECOWAS was exploring diplomacy as an option to return Niger to Democratic rule, it has however not ruled out military intervention.
Ngelale who spoke, affirmed that ECOWAS continues to explore means to put an end to military reign in Niger and also emphasized that diplomacy is the best way forward.
The Presidential spokesperson who revealed that no decision has been taken off the table disclosed that Tinubu and other ECOWAS leaders were strongly in support of exploring diplomatic efforts to return Niger to Democratic rule.
“I can also report that following the expiration of the deadline of the ultimatum and standing on the preexisting consensus position of financial sanctions meted out on the military junta in Niger Republic by the bloc of ECOWAS Heads of State, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an additional slew of financial sanctions through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on entities and individuals related to or involved with the military junta in Niger Republic,” Mr Ngelale told journalists in Abuja.
“No options have been taken off of the table, but Tinubu and other West African leaders favour diplomacy,” Mr. Ngelale assured.
News about Nigeria recalls that earlier attempts by ECOWAS and the United States to negotiate with Niger military junta had failed.
However, leaders of the ECOWAS bloc will on Thursday meet in Abuja to decide the next line of action as the Niger junta has refused to open the door to negotiations.
The military junta had earlier turned down negotiation attempts efforts by ECOWAS delegates.
The Niger junta warned that public anger had been triggered by the sanction imposed upon the nation by ECOWAS, adding that the safety of the ECOWAS Delegation might not be guaranteed.
