The Chairman o ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has sent a delegation of Nigerian Muslim leaders back to Niger Republic for another round of dialogue with the ruling military junta.
Led by Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, the Ulamas who were at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday to brief President Tinubu, were asked to return for another negotiation with the junta in Niger on behalf of the Economic Community of West African States.
Persecondnews had reported that the soldiers had insisted that they would spend three years to conduct fresh elections and return the country to democracy.
But the regional body had rejected the long time set by the junta headed by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani and asked them to restore the deposed President.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents after meeting with Tinubu, Sheikh Bauchi, said the Ulamas were committed to a peaceful and amicable dialogue with the junta to achieve peace in the region.
He called for fervent prayers from the region to ensure that peace and harmony reign.
“First and foremost, we thank Allah for giving us the opportunity and we appreciate and commend the efforts of His Excellency, the President and as you saw, we have just met with him and told him all that went on in Niger.
“He appreciated our efforts and still gave us the mandate that we should continue with the dialogue and discuss with the junta over there.
“They gave us listening ears and we are sure, through peaceful discussions we will be able to achieve what we want.
We are still going back there to ensure that through peaceful and amicable ways, as spiritual leaders, we will be able to do it,” the Ulamas said.
Answering reporters’questions on what is achievable, Sheikh Bauchi said: “What we want? We don’t want war, we want peace to reign in our region. So may Allah continue to bless the President for giving us this opportunity.
“We want serious and fervent prayers from the entire community, across the region so that Allah will grant us that, so that peace and harmony will continue to reign.
“Without peace and harmony, there’s nothing we can do, we can’t even enjoy the dividends of democracy and you cannot even practice your religion. I’m optimistic, Insha Allah, with this intervention, Allah will answer our prayers.”
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Malagi, restated that President Tinubu is committed to a peaceful resolution of the political crisis in Niger.
“The Ulammas will continue to engage with the military junta and other stakeholders in Niger Republic. Mr. President has appreciated their efforts to find a solution to this issue and has encouraged them to continue.
“He has thanked them and efforts are ongoing. The next line of action is that dialogue will continue, and the Ulammas will continue to engage with the military junta and other stakeholders in Niger Republic.
“The President is interested in pursuing a peaceful resolution to this crisis, but nothing is off the table,” the minister said.
On his agenda and vision, Malagi assured Nigerians that there will be “no room for disseminating lies and fake news” in the task of performing his duties, adding dissemination of credible information will our watchword.
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