The failure of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to hear our own side of the coup story before giving us ultimatum to quit office was painful and source of anger.
This is the declaration made by the coup leader in Niger, General Abdourahmane Tchiani.
Tchiani made the declaration in Niger on Saturday during a meeting with Nigeria’s Intervention Team made up of prominent Islamic scholars in Nigeria.
At the meeting, both parties agreed to intensify the option of dialogue in resolving the political crisis in Niger.
In a statement he signed, Sheik Bala Lau who led the team to Niger, said Tchiani who accorded the team warm reception welcomed their intervention.
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Lau said the coup leader said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter.
According to him, General Tchiani, however, said it was painful to the coup leaders that the ECOWAS leaders did not hear their side of the matter before issuing ultimatum to them to quit office.
He was said to have declared that the coup was well intended, stating that they struck to stave off an imminent threat that would have affected not only Niger Republic but also Nigeria.
He was said to have also apologised for not according the team sent by President Bola Tinubu led by former Head of State of Nigeria, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) the required attention because they were angry about the ECOWAS ultimatum.
While tracing the historical ties between the two nations, he said Niger Republic and Nigeria were not only neighbours but brothers and sisters who should resolve issues amicably.
The Islamic Ulammas led by Sheik Bala Lau met with General Abdourahmane Tchiani for several hours in Niger’s capital Niamey during which they deliberated on all the issues including the demand by ECOWAS leaders that former President Bazoum be reinstated.
Bala Lau, who is the national chairman of Jamatul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, said the clerics were in Niger on behalf of President Bola Tinubu who accepted their request to intervene.
Sheik Lau said the team had earlier told President Tinubu who is also the Chairman of Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government that their position is that the political impasse in Niger be resolved through dialogue.
He therefore told General Tchiani that the visit to Niger was to engage in constructive dialogue to encourage him and other military leaders behind the coup to toe the path of peace instead of war to resolve the crisis.
The intervention team made up of scholars from various Islamic sects in Nigeria had among others, Sheik Kabiru Gombe-Secretary, Jamatul izalatul bida waikamatul sunnah; Sheik Yakubu Musa Hassan Katsina-Director Daawah, JIBWIS; Sheik Ibrahim Dahiru Bauchi- Rep Sheik Ibrahim Bauchi and Dr Khalid Aliya- Secretary General, Jammatul Nasril Islam.
Others are Sheik Karibullah Nasiru Kabara- Leader Khadriya group Nigeria, Sheik Ahmad Abdurahman, Professor Salisu Sheri- Deputy Secretary-General Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Sheik Nasiru Abdul Muhayuid- Director Admin, JIBWIS Jos, Professor Mansur Sokoto, and Alhaji Mele Kyari.
