..Advocates general suspension of nations where military seizes power
President Muhammadu Buhari has called for stiffer measures from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to prevent coups d’etat in the sub-region, and even on the continent.
He also asked the body to immediately invoke the provisions of Article 45 of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance by suspending Guinea from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies and statutory meetings.
The president what happened in Guinea was a brazen disregard for ECOWAS, saying four coups within the last few months was a dangerous trend indeed in the sub-region.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said these while representing the president at a virtual Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS member-states on the political developments in the Republics of Guinea and Mali.
The Vice President said the unconstitutional seizure of power in any shape or form was “simply unacceptable” and had no place in the 21st century.
The meeting, attended by 10 of the ECOWAS leaders, alongside others, including representatives from the United Nations, came after Guinean President Alpha Conde was ousted by a coup d’etat in the West African country on September 5.
This culminated in his arrest and detention by the country’s military junta, the dissolution of the Guinean government, suspension of the constitution, and a military takeover.
The VP while stating Nigeria’s position on the unfortunate development in Guinea said, “I join all well-meaning global leaders to express in the strongest terms the condemnation of the Government of Nigeria of this unconstitutional change of government; a development that could seriously destabilise the Republic of Guinea.
“What happened in Guinea is a brazen disregard for the provisions of ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which clearly states that every accession to power must be made through free, fair and transparent election. Four coups within the last few months is a dangerous trend indeed in the sub-region,” he said.
Osinbajo went ahead to table an idea which the Chairman of ECOWAS and President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, later described as “a proposal of great weight.”
He said, “We are sliding back to the infamous 60s. Our zero-tolerance for coups is important but clearly insufficient. Are there further steps that we can take to prevent coups d’etat?
“Could we, for example, work out an understanding with the UN, AU, Commonwealth and possibly, even the development finance institutions we are a part of to act in unity to suspend a country where there has been a seizure of power from all these bodies simultaneously?”
The Vice President said it was imperative that countries in the sub-region respected the provisions against unconstitutional accession to power, and to apply it in all instances.
He called on the authority “to immediately invoke the provisions of Article 45 of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance by suspending Guinea from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies and statutory meetings. We should also take any other necessary punitive measures that will ensure that the military junta does not overstay in power.”
He urged the ECOWAS Commission “to immediately appoint a Mediator to lead the region’s genuine engagement with the military junta, all political actors, and civil society groups in Guinea towards finding a lasting solution that will return the country to democratic rule as soon as possible.”
He added, “ECOWAS must use its regional mechanisms efficiently to engage the military junta and if necessary, provide support for them to return the country to normalcy and democratic rule.”
Other steps to be taken in finding a lasting solution to the unfortunate development in Guinea, according to him, is for the military junta to not only ensure the physical safety of President Condé and all those detained along with him but also ensure his immediate and unconditional release.
“The safety of lives and property of the people of Guinea must also be guaranteed. The military must draw up a timetable for a civilian-led transition and commence the process of exiting the Guinean political stage and return the country to constitutional order and civilian rule,” he submitted.
Speaking on the update on the situation in Mali, the Vice President commended former President Goodluck Jonathan for his continued commitment and engagement with the various stakeholders in Mali.
Osinbajo, in a statement issued yesterday by his spokesman, Laolu Akande, added that Nigeria wouldl continue to closely monitor the situations in Guinea and Mali as well as work with the ECOWAS Commission, the African Union, and other Member-States to facilitate the return of both countries to civil governance.