President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is facing mounting pressure to deploy military force in Niger Republic, as he revealed yesterday during a meeting with influential Nigerian Muslim clerics.
He further emphasized that his commitment to achieving a peaceful resolution is influencing his approach to the matter in his capacity as the chairman of the Authority of Heads of States and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Tinubu made these remarks during a meeting with prominent Islamic clerics (Ulama), led by Sheikh Bala Lau, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
“I am managing a very serious situation. Even as of this (yesterday) morning, I have been inundated with phone calls on the readiness of countries with their military force and contributions. However, I told them to wait. I am meeting with the Ulama and I will get back to you.”
“If you take ECOWAS aside, other people will react, those who are outside of our control. I am the one holding those sides back. I am the one holding back ECOWAS,” the President conveyed to the Ulama.
Tinubu authorised a group of Nigerian Muslim clerics to return to Niger in a last push for diplomatic solution.
