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Opinion; We are Helping, not Attacking Niger

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Opinion; We are Helping, not Attacking Niger

By Danjuma Ibrahim

Following the July 26 military coup that overthrew the civilian government of Mohammed Bazoum in Niger Republic, many have tended to misconstrue the resolution of the Heads of Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in response to the developments there as intention to go to war.

As the economic and political body of the region, ECOWAS has the mandate to respond to developments that threaten the peaceful coexistence of the various countries of the region. This is consistent with article 4 of the ECOWAS charter which states inter alia that ECOWAS is charged with ‘’maintenance of regional peace, stability and security through promotion and strengthening of good neighbourliness.”

The charter also charges ECOWAS with “promotion and consolidation of a democratic system of governance in each Member State as envisaged by the Declaration of Political Principles adopted in Abuja on 6 July 1991…’’

The coup that took place in Niger and the subsequent events that followed the coup was a clear violation of the principles of the ECOWAS charter, and the regional body is acting in pursuance of its mandate under the charter. For the avoidance of doubt, each member state including Niger being a signatory to the charter are obligated to comply with its provisions.

Against this background, the steps so far taken by ECOWAS to freeze diplomatic ties, target the financial assets of functionaries of the junta and deny it any form of recognition and interaction within the region are within the purview of the necessary measures to restore the democratic order in Niger which was violently and unconstitutionally disrupted by the military junta in Niger.

We must bear in mind that the coup in Niger falls into a disturbing pattern in which the military have overthrown the democratic order in several countries in the region and even beyond. The coup in Niger completes the circle of countries in the entire Sahel belt of West Africa comprising Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso. If this dangerous unconstitutional contagion is not checked decisively, it might spread to engulf the entire West African sub-region.

The implication is that hard won struggles to install democracy across the countries of the region will be reversed. The peoples of the various countries of the region will come under arbitrary rule of military juntas which will set off a plethora of insurmountable challenges and exacerbate existing ones.

To arrest this untoward development, it behoves on the democratic states in the region to come together to apply robust diplomatic, political and economic measures not only to return the affected countries to democratic governance but also to act as deterrence to would be military adventurers in the remainder of the countries in the region.

This is what ECOWAS is pursuing at the moment and the military junta in Niger and indeed those in Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso as well are called upon to heed the entreaties of ECOWAS, African Union (AU), United Nations (UN) and well-meaning international bodies to begin the process of returning their countries to democratic rule without further delay in the interest of national and regional peaceful co-existence. Nor will any further action taken by ECOWAS to be misconstrued as “attacking Niger Republic.”

Removing the illegal junta is not the same thing as attacking Niger Republic, any more than removing Laurent Gbagbo in 2010 did not amount to an attack on Cote D’Ivoire.

***Danjuma Ibrahim
Retired Foreign Service Officer

Opinion; We are Helping, not Attacking Niger

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JAJI LAUDS SANWO-OLU, GBAJABIAMILA

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JAJI LAUDS SANWO-OLU, GBAJABIAMILA

· CALLS EX-SPEAKER BRIDGE BUILDER, REDEEMER OF THE MASSES

By: Our Reporter

Lagos politician, Oladipo Jaji, on Saturday described the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila as the champion of the people’s cause and bridge between all divides.

‘’Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila is kind, upright, conscientious and deeply religious’’

He also described the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu as a resourceful and persistent organizer.

Jaji in a statement in Surulere commended the former Speaker of the House of Representatives for his brilliant dramatization of politics as the medium of empowerment, development, education and leadership.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain applauded Sanwo Olu for handling development issues in Lagos State with general skill and efficiency.

The gender conscious governor was also praised for sustaining peace, developing a new moral climate and executing several projects across the state.

Jaji praised Gbajabiamila for carrying the load of the president’s office with calm, deepening grassroots democracy, giving a greater sense of security to the people, empowering the youths and enriching their knowledge to enable them garner necessary experiences for higher challenges.

‘’Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila unlocked new energies in the good people of Surulere. He also rekindled hope in other parts of Lagos State’’.

The dashing leader was applauded for standing up for the people, encouraging the women and stimulating the imagination of politicians in Lagos to new visions of things to be done.

Particularly, Jaji hailed Gbajabiamila for his deep sincerity, intellectual ability and dedication to public service.

The statement highlighted qualities of poise and endurance, integrity and honesty of purpose, loyalty and ardor.

It also emphasized Gbajabiamila’s largeness of vision and inexhaustible energy.

‘’I wish His Excellency, Governor Babatunde Sanwo-Olu and Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila robust health, much joy and unlimited strength’’ the statement added.

JAJI LAUDS SANWO-OLU, GBAJABIAMILA

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At Launch Of Ethiopia’s GLI, VP Shettima Urges Practical Action Against Climate Change

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At Launch Of Ethiopia’s GLI, VP Shettima Urges Practical Action Against Climate Change

** Says Nigeria, Ethiopia have the largest stake in Africa’s future by keeping continent green

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on nations of the world to be decisive about combating climate change, saying it is a danger that must be arrested with practical actions.

According to him, while the global threat is not one that can be resolved in a conference room, it requires each country to respond to the peculiarities of the ecological burdens confronting them.

The Nigerian Vice President, who stated this on Friday during the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative (GLI), in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, said he was delighted to share in the joy of Ethiopia’s resolve to confront the threat posed by climate change “with clarity, courage, and conviction.”

The Ethiopian Green Legacy Programme, which is designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.

Senator Shettima, who is in the East African country for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, implored nations to enhance their climate plans by doubling their adaptation and mitigation efforts.

He said, “We have long accepted that climate change is not a problem to be solved in a conference room; it is a danger we must arrest with practical actions, with each nation rising to the occasion by responding to the peculiarities of the ecological burdens they face.

“Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative is one such response. It is an inspiring blueprint to reimagine the future. The promise of GLI is the dream of every nation. It is a lesson in vision, in purpose, and in audacity. For those of us who have followed this programme, the numbers are staggering, but the impact is even more compelling.

“To plant 20 billion seedlings within four years, to establish over 20,000 nurseries, and to create hundreds of thousands of green jobs is to show that the future is something we must plant, nurture, and build.”

VP Shettima noted that he was not in Ethiopia to only share in the country’s joy and exchange ideas but to also convey what he described as the deep and abiding solidarity of his boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the people of Nigeria.

Applauding those who made the Green Legacy Initiative a reality, he assured Ethiopia of Nigeria’s unflinching support, adding that both countries have the largest stake in Africa’s future.

“Ethiopia and Nigeria are the two most populous countries in Africa. This distinction is not just statistical; it is existential. It means we have the largest stake in Africa’s future. It means that more of our people are exposed to the peril of climate change, and it also means that we face the highest cost of inaction.

“This is why we are not mere spectators in this fight. We are partners. We are participants. And we are prepared to play our part to keep Africa green,” the Vice President pledged, just as he said it is the promise Nigeria and other nations have been making at the Conferences of the Parties (COP) every year.

“It is the pledge we renewed at the last COP in Azerbaijan. And today, we gather not only to stand by this promise but to celebrate the path Ethiopia has illuminated for the world,” he added.

Senator Shettima thanked the government and people of Ethiopia for the warmth and generosity extended to him and other members of the Nigerian delegation.

He said they felt at home, “not just because of the hospitality shown to them, but because the launch of the Green Legacy Programme resonates with the aspirations “to leave behind a planet fit for the dreams of generations to come.

In his address at the event, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called on African countries to make the Green Legacy a culture, adding that Ethiopia was proud of Nigeria and its bold move to embrace the green initiative.

The Prime Minister called for partnership across African countries, stating that it was time to place less emphasis on foreign aid and begin to focus more on indigenous and home-grown domestic ideas and visions.

“This year’s Green Legacy is to rise by planting, and it is in consonance with our plan to shock the world with our Green Legacy vision. We never received any aid when we set out to achieve our 20 billion tree planting initiative.

“We thank Nigeria for supporting and accepting this initiative. With its population and growing economy, we are sure that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as exemplified by the esteemed presence of Vice President Kashim Shettima, will go a long way in raising the awareness and collaborative effort needed amongst African countries,” the Prime Minister said.

He further expressed optimism that with Ethiopia’s hosting of the forthcoming United Nations summit on Climate Change, the stage is set for all hands to be on deck to achieve one of Ethiopia’s biggest green revolution plans.

Earlier in the day, Vice President Shettima was guided through Ethiopia’s Unity Park, Science Museum, and the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum, which showcase Ethiopia’s historic and transformative trajectory.

At Launch Of Ethiopia’s GLI, VP Shettima Urges Practical Action Against Climate Change

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VP Shettima Arrives For Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme Launch

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VP Shettima Arrives For Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme Launch

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived at the venue for the official launch of Ethiopia’s flagship Green Legacy Programme in Addis Ababa.

The project is part of Nigeria’s commitment to regional and continental collaboration on climate action and aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritizes environmental sustainability, food security, and green economic growth.

VP Shettima is in the company of the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed.

The Vice President, who is on an official state visit to Ethiopia, will participate in the launch ceremony of the environmental initiative aimed at combating deforestation and mitigating climate change effects.

The Green Legacy Programme targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period to enhance biodiversity and address environmental challenges across Ethiopia.

This initiative aligns with Nigeria’s existing endeavours in afforestation and reforestation, such as the Great Green Wall project, which focuses on restoring damaged environments, combating desertification, and fostering climate resilience throughout the Sahel region.

VP Shettima Arrives For Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme Launch

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