Group criticises the coup in Niger Republic and advocates for protocol revision

The ECOWAS Community Citizens organisation has criticised the recent coup in Niger Republic and advocated for modification of the ECOWAS Protocol on democracy and good governance.

They stated their positions to journalists in Abuja on Thursday.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), ECOWAS Community Citizens are drawn from Civil Society Movements and Organisations, the Private Sector, Political Parties, Trade and Labour Unions, Women and Youth Associations, and others.

Dr Ken Ukoaha, the National President of the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), a member of the organisation, denounced the coup in Niger Republic as an unconstitutional and undemocratic conduct in the twenty-first century.

Ukaoha cautioned the ECOWAS Commission against imposing economic sanctions that would harm ordinary individuals and the country’s economic activity.

While emphasising the importance of effective measures against coups in West Africa, he advocated the modification of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance to provide term limits for political authorities.

“Serious socio-political turbulence has punctuated the processes of lengthening mandates, confirming the peoples’ strong opposition to tenure elongation.”

“These crises can serve as a pretext for security forces to intervene in the political game, exacerbating the risks of instability.”

“A culture of periodic alienation at the Heads of State promotes accountability and better management of public finances.”

“The solution lies largely in reforming the Protocol to put an end to the detrimental practises that contribute to power longevity once and for all.”

The NANTS president then urged the West African Community to make the core of Vision 2050 a reality, creating a fully integrated community of peoples in a peaceful, affluent area with strong institutions that respect fundamental freedom.

Prof. Jubrin Ibrahim of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) congratulated ECOWAS Chairman, President Bola Tinubu, for his quick reaction to the coup.

Ibrahim then emphasised the importance of sanctioning perpetrators of coup engineering in West Africa.

Also addressing, Isatou Ceesay of ‘Hope of Tomorrow, Gambia’ stated that democracy remained the best form of administration, emphasising the necessity for the military to remain out of power.

Ceesay urged that they should focus on their primary responsibility of safeguarding the safety of people and property.

According to her, coups are no longer fashionable, and the ECOWAS Commission should implement measures to prevent coup plotters from seizing power in any country.

Members from Togo and Mali, among others, who spoke at the occasion, urged stronger political will to accelerate economic and political growth in the West African region.

According to NAN, troops from Niger’s presidential guard removed President Mohamed Bazoum and locked the country’s borders on Wednesday.

The presidential guard also restricted access to government ministries.

According to NAN, the troops proclaimed the dissolution of the constitution on national television, as reported by Aljazeera.

With this, Niger becomes the sixth country in the West African sub-region to have a coup since August 2020.

The soldiers, led by Col. Amadou Abdramane, announced a coup and blocked all West African borders.

Abdramane stated on national television that “the defence and security forces… have decided to put an end to the regime you are familiar with.” (NAN