President Bola Tinubu says the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) will continue persuading Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso
to return to the bloc.
Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso severed ties with ECOWAS after
sanctions were imposed on them by the bloc following coups in their domains.
In a statement on Friday, Ajuri Ngelale, presidential
spokesperson, quoted Tinubu, chairman of ECOWAS, as saying that the bloc would
continue to be friendly to the countries.
Ngelale said Tinubu spoke in Abuja on Friday when he met
with ECOWAS defence chiefs.
“It is in our hearts to make sure that security is enhanced,
and that constitutional government is defended and promoted in our region,” the
statement reads.
“It has been a challenging tenure for me since three members
indicated their exit. We will work hard to persuade them to return, whichever
way.
“No one man is smarter than the group of heads that is here.
We will do everything to offer a hand of friendship to them and give them
reasons to come back to us.
“The solution to
terrorism and other challenges lies in our hands. We have to do it together.
“The ECOWAS standby force must be ready. We will continue to
invest in this, as well as in the economic prosperity and opportunities across
our region.”
On his part, Christopher Musa, chairman of the ECOWAS chiefs
of defence staff, said insurgency and unconstitutional changes in government
must be addressed collectively.
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