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The Senate has rejected President Bola Tinubu’s request to send military intervention to remove the coupists in Niger Republic, a move that cancels any hope of Nigeria marching to war against the neighbouring nation as the ECOWAS 7-day ultimatum to the junta approaches its last hours.
Godswill Akpabio, Senate President, “condemned in totality the coup that took place in Niger Republic” but asked Mr Tinubu to explore lasting resolutions that would still preserve the “cordial relationship” both Niger and Nigeria have enjoyed for years.
“The Senate recognises the fact that President Tinubu, by the virtue of his correspondence, has not asked that we should approve a request to go to war, but he expressed a wish to solicit support in the successful implementation of the ECOWAS communique,” Mr Akpabio said after a two-hour closed-door session on Saturday.
“The Senate is mandated to further engage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on how best to resolve the issue in view of the cordial relationship between Nigeria and Niger,” Mr Akpabio stated.
A military junta spearheaded by Abdouramane Tchiani last week ousted Niger’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, and has since been running the nation.
Since Mr Tchiani gained the support of Mali and Burkina Faso, he has cut off ties with Nigeria, U.S., Togo and France.