Buhari Counsels ECOWAS Leaders Against Tenure Elongation

–Paints Gloomy Picture Of COVID-19, Urges Return To Discussions On ‘ECO’, Others

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday counselled his fellow ECOWAS leaders to stick to the constitutional provisions of their respective countries on tenure of office.

Buhari spoke at the 57th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, which opened in Niamey, Niger Republic, on Monday.

He noted that political tensions and unnecessary crises could be avoided if leaders served their constitutional terms of office and left quietly.

Buhari, who was first elected as Nigeria’s President in 2015, is serving his second and final term of four years to terminate in 2023.

He said, “( It is) important that as leaders of our individual Member-States of ECOWAS, we need to adhere to the constitutional provisions of our countries, particularly on term limits. This is one area that generates crisis and political tension in our sub-region.

“As it is, the challenges facing the sub-region are enormous; from socio-economic matters to security issues, the ECOWAS sub-region cannot therefore afford another political crisis, in the guise of tenure elongation. I urge us all to resist the temptation of seeking to perpetuate ourselves in power beyond the constitutional provisions.

“I commend those in our midst that have resisted such temptations, for they will be deemed exceptional role models in their respective countries and the sub-region as a whole.

“Related to this call for restraint is the need to guarantee free, fair and credible elections. This must be the bedrock for democracy to be sustained in our sub-region, just as the need for adherence to the rule of law.”

Buhari seized the opportunity to comment on the current political crisis in Mali, saying that the sub-regional body was deeply worried about it.

The State House said Buhari commended President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic and “out-going Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and the Leadership of the ECOWAS Commission, as well as the Chief Mediator, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, ‘for effectively demonstrating commitment in handling the political situation in that country.'”

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, quoted him further, “Nigeria remains resolutely committed to ECOWAS decision for a civilian-led Transition Government not exceeding 12 months. This is important because of the circumstances surrounding Mali where violent non-state actors and other negative tendencies reside and who can take advantage of the unstable political situation to overrun the country, thereby plunging it into greater danger that will affect the political stability of the whole sub-region.

“While Nigeria understands the current political realities in Mali, the sub-region’s commitment to the Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, must never be compromised.

“An early return to democratic governance which is transparent and civilian-led, will commend itself for Nigeria’s support for progressive relaxation of sanctions against Mali.”

Commenting on insecurity, the Nigerian President noted, “Terrorism continues to be the greatest security threat in our sub-region, complicating other national security challenges. As a sub-region, we need to collaborate more by working hand in hand with each other, to combat the root causes of the different security-related manifestations in our countries…

“Nigeria is concerned with the rapidity at which terrorist groups in the Sahel and West Africa are working together against all of us…We must urgently review these ugly developments to guarantee the safety and survival of our sub-region.

“Our national security apparatus and the relevant Units of ECOWAS must urgently be seized with these unfolding events across our sub-region and act decisively on the emergence of early warning signs.”

On the issue of a single currency for ECOWAS member states, Buhari said, “Nigeria remains committed to the implementation of the action plan towards the actualization of the monetary union and single currency programme of ECOWAS.”

He urged member states to “show support to the resolution of the Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS on this matter.”

Buhari, who admitted that there might be delays in the take-off date due to the impact of COVID -19 on Africa’s economies, however advised members to “remain collectively focused and resolute in working to achieve the objectives of the ECOWAS monetary union as a project for the sub-region.”   

Buhari expressed reservations over the “premature adoption” of the ‘ECO’ as a single currency by some members states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, urging them to make a U-turn to be part of the discussions to have a currency acceptable to all the ECOWAS states.

Buhari stated that the objective must remain finding “African solutions to African problems.”

Buhari added, “Foreign interference and so-called advice may not be in our best sub-regional interest,” stressing the “need for UEMOA to return to the agreed roadmap of the ECOWAS Single Currency by complying with the established framework under the roadmap and cooperate with other member countries in achieving the objectives of the programme.”

In his capacity as the ECOWAS Champion charged with mobilising and coordinating the efforts against the COVID -19 pandemic, the Nigerian President told the session that the picture for Africa was still not encouraging, though he said with collaboration, defeating the pandemic on the continent was not an impossible task.

“We must pool our resources together in unity to save our generation and generations to come from multiple challenges, including COVID-19 and related health issues.

“We need to redouble our efforts in preparing our national economies to withstand impending shocks against prospective multi-sector challenges that await us in the sub-region,” he added.

The session elected the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, as the new Chairman of the body.