By Bashir Aliyu
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar has dispelled a conspiracy theory that ECOWAS is being pressurized by France not to remove economic sanctions on Niger until the country releases the ousted president Bazoum Muhammad following a military takeover led to the suspension of the country from the regional bloc with economic sanction being imposed on the country.
In an interview with Daily Trust TV, the minister asserted that throughout its history, ECOWAS has never been dictated by France or any foreign power to take a position on anything that goes against its interests.
“Let’s leave all of that aside, what we’re looking for is peace. We have always maintained a very close and friendly relation with Niger, we’re not in conflict with the people of Niger. In fact, we are doing this for the people of Niger. That was why Nigeria and ECOWAS took this position,” the minister said.
Moreover, the minister also shed light on the intricacies that surround the stalled mediation between the junta and the ECOWAS official. Mr. Tuggar claimed that the Nigerien junta are adamant that sanctions be removed before they look at the possibility of releasing Bazoum which ECOWAS negotiators see as a non-starter.
During the COP28 Conference in Dubai, the Nigerian Foreign Minister emphasized that ECOWAS was ready to relax sanctions on the country once the junta led by Abdulrahmane Tchiani if Bazoum and his family members were allowed to stay leave the country, but the junta is dragging its feet, claiming it was too premature to release Bazoum considering the security implication it could have on his release.
According to Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, some lobbies from Niger are bribing influential Nigerians to exert pressure on the Nigerian government to remove sanctions on the country.
“Certainly we have proof, concrete proof that they were offering money to people. There were certain people in Niger that were offering money to people here to agitate for the removal of sanctions, to put pressure, to put pressure on the Nigerian government to remove the sanctions,” Ambassador Tuggar said.
The Nigerian foreign minister vows to continue to pressurize the country to release Bazoum and unveil a clear roadmap for the restoration of democracy in the country. He said Nigeria and ECOWAS will not tolerate military coups in the region anymore.