The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended the Economic Community of West African States for taking the unequivocal decision to reinstate Interim President Michel Kafando, who was ousted by his country’s Presidential Guards.
It also hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for adding another feather to his diplomatic cap by hosting the Extraordinary Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government for its leadership role in restoring the transitional order in Burkina Faso.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the regional bloc’s insistence on the strict adherence to its Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which has zero tolerance for power obtained by unconstitutional means, is a positive development for democracy, peace and stability in West Africa.
The statement said: “In condemning the coup d’etat in Burkina Faso, President Buhari left no one in doubt about Nigeria’s stand. He made it clear, in the statement that was issued on Sept. 18th 2015, that Nigeria will ‘give the fullest possible support to efforts by the ECOWAS mediatory team of President Macky Sall of Senegal and President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic to quickly restore Burkina Faso to the path of order, democracy and constitutionalism’.
“Also in that statement, President Buhari urged the people of Burkina Faso to remain calm and steadfast in support of the transitional order, elections and democratic governance with the full assurance that Nigeria, ECOWAS and the international community will uphold their right to peace, freedom, democracy and good governance.
“This very impressive role by President Buhari has gone a long way in restoring Nigeria’s ebbing leadership role in the West African sub-region in particular and the African region in general.”
The party described as victory for peace and democracy the reinstatement of the Interim Government of Burkina Faso and the relinquishing of power by the putschists without a major military confrontation that would have further destabilized the fragile country and caused needless destruction and deaths.