By Halimah Olamide
United States’s Vice President, Mrs. Kamala Harris, has revealed what she discussed with Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu. The US Vice President said late Thursday that she had discussed the fate of democracy with the Chairman of the Economic Community of West Africa. Her call to the Nigerian president came amidst confusion over coup in neighbouring Niger Republic. NPO Reports that soldiers had staged a coup against President Mohammed Bazoum on Wednesday placing him under house arrest. France said late Thursday that the ousted president was fine.
[09:26, 28/07/2023] D Boss: United States’s Vice President, Mrs. Kamala Harris, has revealed what she discussed with Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu. The US Vice President said late Thursday that she had discussed the fate of democracy with the Chairman of the Economic Community of West Africa. Her call to the Nigerian president came amidst confusion over coup in neighbouring Niger Republic. NPO Reports that soldiers had staged a coup against President Mohammed Bazoum on Wednesday placing him under house arrest. France said late Thursday that the ousted president was fine.
[09:28, 28/07/2023] D Boss: “Today, I spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria about the strong ties between the Nigerian and American people and our shared work on global and regional issues—from defending democracy in West Africa and the Sahel to promoting digital inclusion and economic growth,” Harris said in her tweet. The ECOWAS chairman, Tinubu, had in the wake of the coup, vowed to resist any move that could jeopardize democracy in the sub-region. “It should be quite clear to all players in the Republic of Niger that the leadership of the ECOWAS Region and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of the country.”
“The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa.”
“I wish to say that we are closely monitoring the situation and developments in Niger and we will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region.”
Tinubu had said, “I am in close consultation with other leaders in our region, and we shall protect our hard-earned democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism.”
“As the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order.”