The Senate on Saturday urged President Bola Tinubu to use diplomatic engagement in the on-going suspension of democracy in the neighbouring Niger Republic.
They arrived at this resolution after a four-hour closed-door meeting on the impasse in Niger, a West African country.
President Tinubu had sent a letter to the Senate seeking approval on the implementation of the resolution of ECOWAS on the political tension in Niger Republic.
Reacting to the letter, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said, contrary to the speculations in the media, president Tinubu did not seek the approval of the Senate to go to war with Niger Republic rather he is seeking for approval for the implementation of ECOWAS resolution in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria, who also doubles as the chairman of ECOWAS.
He said: “By the virtue of the correspondence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Commander-in-Chief, he has not come for the approval of the parliament or of Senate to go to war as erroneously suggested in some quarters, rather Mr President and Commander-in-Chief had expressed and I quote, in which to respectfully solicited support in the successful implementation of the ECOWAS resolutions in the said communications.”
“The leadership of the Senate is mandated to further engage with the President and Commander-in-Chief on behalf of the entire Senate to ensure how best to resolve the crisis.”
“The Senate call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Chairman of ECOWAS to further encourage other leaders of ECOWAS to strengthen political and diplomatic options and other means with a view to resolving the impasse.”
