Gowon spurns invitation to address ECOWAS crises

.Bloc to discuss lifting of Niger sanctions at extraordinary summit

A fresh move by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to return Burkina Faso, Niger and Mail to the group may have hit a brick wall, as former Head of State and one of the founding fathers of the sub-regional body, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), yesterday, turned down an invitation to wade into the crises bedeviling the organisation.

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with ECOWAS Commission, had invited journalists to a “Press Conference” with Gowon at the group’s headquarters in Abuja by 9.00 a.m.

He was expected to speak on the current state of affairs at the regional level with regards to coups and subsequent threats by Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to exit the bloc, and perhaps, proffer lasting solutions to the challenge.

Gowon’s invitation was another step aimed at brokering peace among member states. But two hours after, there was no sign of his coming. Rather, information filtered in that the elder statesman may have declined the invite.

As if to exonerate itself from the controversy, the meeting venue was moved to a nearby hotel where journalists spent additional one hour waiting before the organisers announced that the meeting has been postponed. No new date was fixed for the event.

Recall that the three military juntas, on January 28, announced their intention to quit the body over allegation of ECOWAS becoming a threat to its members, of being “under the influence of foreign powers, and of betraying its founding principles.”

A day after, the leadership expressed concern over the countries’ decision, noting that that unelected leaders were engaging in a public posture to deny their people the sovereign right to make fundamental choices.
ECOWAS has been calling on the three nations to return to civilian rule, by imposing sanctions and denying them plans for lengthy democratic transitions.

Recently, the Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the Ministerial Level, which held in Abuja, urged the aggrieved nations to prioritise dialogue and reconciliation.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the MSC, Yusuf Tuggar, pointed out that their decision to withdraw from the Community has presented yet another challenge, and that members were committed in the spirit of cooperation to resolve the problem and uphold the values of the organisation.

Besides, ECOWAS will hold an extraordinary summit on February 24 in Abuja, with Niger expected to be a key topic of discussion. The summit comes amid speculation that sanctions imposed on the country after the military takeover in July 2023 may be lifted.

The group imposed sanctions on Niger after the military ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. However, at its December 2023 summit, the bloc indicated a willingness to ease the embargo if certain conditions were met, including the deposed leader’s release and a defined transition timeline.

Recent reports suggest General Abdourahmane Tiani, Niger’s current leader, is open to releasing Bazoum, but the former President reportedly refused.

The development has added fresh intrigues to the upcoming gathering.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, returned to Nigeria at the end of the African Union (AU) General Assembly in Ethiopia.

He left on Thursday, February 15, for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to take part in the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU Heads of State and Government.

During the summit, Tinubu was named the AU Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership.

The President, on Sunday, also met with his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and discussed ways to enhance trade, commercial and cultural relations between both countries.