Tinubu meets ECOWAS president, Abdulsalami over Niger Republic crisis

President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting with Omar Touray,
president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and
Abdulsalami Abubakar, former head of state, at the presidential villa.

The meeting which is being held to discuss the political
instability in Niger Republic, also has Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser
(NSA) to the president, in attendance.

An Abdulsalami-led ECOWAS delegation arrived in Niamey, Niger’s
capital city, on Saturday, for the bloc’s “final” negotiations for a return of
power to deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.

The delegation included Muhammad Abubakar, the Sultan of
Sokoto, and the ECOWAS commission president.

After meeting Ali Lamine Zeine, Niger’s prime minister, the
emissaries also met with Bazoum.

Although Abdulsalami did not give details of the meeting,
the former head of state said he would brief Tinubu, who is the ECOWAS
chairperson, on the outcome.

In a late night address, Abdourahamane Tiani, the coup
leader, said the country will return to civilian rule within three years.

Tiani gave no details of the plan, noting that only
principles for the transition would be decided within 30 days at a dialogue to
be hosted by the junta.

However, ECOWAS rejected the proposed transition plan,
saying it would no longer accept prolonged transition periods in the
sub-region.