- By Femi Alabi
President Bola Tinubu has said that west Africa through collective determination and efforts, the region will survive the challenges before it and chart a course toward a peaceful, secured and a thriving West Africa.
President Tinubu also urged Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali to reconsider their decision to withdraw their membership from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Tinubu made the appeal during an extraordinary summit of the regional bloc held in Abuja on Saturday.
He emphasised that ECOWAS must stand united to promote democracy, human rights and sustainable development across West Africa.
The withdrawals of the three countries came after ECOWAS imposed sanctions on the countries over delayed elections and military coups.
Tinubu admited the challenges but said they present an opportunity for ECOWAS to reaffirm its founding principles.
He said, “I am confident that through our collective efforts and determination, we will navigate the challenges before us and chart a course towards a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous West Africa,” Tinubu told the gathered leaders
The Abuja summit was aimed at examinning the countries’ actions while ensuring that citizens of the three countries are not denied the benefits of regional integration.
He acknowledged the daunting nature of the challenges but urged member states to prioritize collective action and dialogue.
“We must stand united in our resolve to promote economic integration, democracy, and human rights, with a view to fostering sustainable development across all our member states,”
Tinubu commended Macky Sall of Senegal for agreeing to organize elections soon and abide by the court ruling to step down, describing it as an act of courage and statesmanship.