The Oluwo of Iwo Kingdom in Osun State, Oba Abdurosheed Akanbi, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to use his good offices as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government to thwart the military takeover of power in neighbouring Niger Republic.
According to Oba Akanbi, President Tinubu must ensure that no coup d’etat survives under his reign as ECOWAS Chairman.
The monarch said this in a statement signed by his media aide, Alli Ibraheem, on Thursday.
Oba Akanbi said that Africa should be gravitating toward strengthening democracy and shunning the forceful takeover of power.
“Democracy in Africa has to be strengthened through promotion of a democratic system of government devoid of military incursion and interference. I’m calling on President Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria to use his position as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to thwart the ongoing military taking over of the country’s affairs from the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic.
“The call becomes necessary on Tinubu on two premises- being the ECOWAS chairman and President of Nigeria adjudged to be the giant of Africa. No Coup must survive under your watch as ECOWAS chairman. External authorities and forces have to be mobilized to grow African democracy and ensure sanity.
“Defending democracy is the primary task of ECOWAS authority. I’m convinced Tinubu will lead the body constructively by fortifying the system in favour of democracy. Democracy will survive in Africa.
“President Tinubu should harmonize forces to win the war against democracy. He must show strength and prove himself beyond expectation in his new office as ECOWAS boss,” Oba Akanbi said.
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