President Bola Tinubu has advocated for the temporary suspension of economic sanctions imposed on Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Speaking at an extraordinary session of ECOWAS held in Abuja on Saturday, Tinubu, who serves as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the organization, emphasized the need to reassess the efficacy of the sanctions in achieving their intended objectives.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, conveyed Tinubu’s remarks in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.
Ngelale said, “Everything we did was in hopes of persuading our brothers that there existed a better path, a path that would lead to genuine improvement of their people’s welfare through democratic good governance.”
”And this was a path each of our nations had solemnly agreed with one another pursuant to formal regional treaty and protocol.”
“However, the sanctions that we contemplated might help lead our brothers to the negotiating table have become a harsh stumbling block. In my mind and heart, that which is hurtful yet ineffective serves no good purpose and should be abandoned.”
“ECOWAS was established for the unassailable objective of improving the lives of the people of this region through fraternal cooperation among all member states.”
”This edifice was cemented on the strong foundation and apt conviction that, united as one, we can be the true masters of our destiny.”
Tinubu highlighted that while the sanctions were initially conceived as a means to encourage dialogue and cooperation among member states, they have instead become a hindrance to the broader objectives of regional unity and development.
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