Breaking: Dead on arrival: Senate rejects Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to beleaguered Niger Republic

For once, the Nigerian Senate spurned President Bola Tinubu’s request to send Nigerian soldiers to Niger Republic in a bid to restore constitutional democracy in the country and implement the decision of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Instead, the lawmakers advised Tinubu, the Chairman of ECOWAS and other leaders of the region to “tread softly in addressing the political quagmire in Niger”.

The senators doused the tension in the region over a possible military action in Niger during a two-hour closed-door session to discuss the letter written to the Senate on August 4 by President Tinubu on the decisions taken by the regional body following a coup by soldiers in the country.

They asked ECOWAS to strengthen political and diplomatic options and other means to resolve the political impasse in Niger.

While condemning the coup in totality, the lawmakers lauded the chairman of the regional body, Tinubu and other Heads of State of the other states of ECOWAS for their prompt response and the positions taken on the unfortunate development in Niger Republic.

Reeling out the resolutions of the senators, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, said: “The Senate recognizes that President Tinubu via his correspondence has not asked for the approval of the parliament of this Senate to go to war as erroneously suggested in some quarters.

“Rather Mr President has expressed a wish to respectfully solicit the support of the National Assembly in the successful implementation of the resolutions of the ECOWAS as outlined in the said communication.

“The Senate calls on the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the chairman of ECOWAS to further encourage other leaders of ECOWAS to strengthen political and diplomatic options and other means intending to resolve the political compass in Niger Republic.

“The National Assembly to the ECOWAS under the leadership of President Tinubu in resolving the political situation in Niger and returning the country to democratic governance in the nearest future.

“The leadership of the Senate is mandated to further engage with the president and commander in chief with on behalf of the Senate and the entire National Assembly on how best to resolve the issue given the hitherto existing cordial relationship between Nigerieans and Nigerians.”

Akpabio added:“Finally, the Senate calls on the ECOWAS parliament to rise to the occasion by equally condemning this coup and also positing solutions to resolving this compass as soon as possible.”