Nigeria (Common Wealth) _ Nigerian President Bola Tinubu was chosen chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He was elected to the role at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
Tinubu, the newest member of West Africa’s exclusive club of heads of state, proudly embraced the distinction on behalf of Nigeria, promising to carry the burden of the position and lead an inclusive administration of the regional organization.
According to a press statement made available to Anadolu by Dele Alake, special adviser to the president on special tasks, communications, and strategy, Tinubu cautioned that the threat of Terrorism and a growing pattern of military takeover have reached frightening proportions in the sub-region, necessitating immediate and coordinated action.
He claimed that instability and creeping terrorism were impeding the region’s prosperity and development.
Tinubu urged member nations to take joint action, promising that frameworks will be unified under his leadership in order to realize ECOWAS’s objectives.
“In terms of peace and security, the threat has reached an alarming level, necessitating immediate action to address the challenges.” Indeed, without a calm environment, the region’s progress and development will remain unattainable. In this regard, he stated, “we must remain committed to utilizing all regional frameworks at our disposal to address the threat of insecurity.”
The president highlighted that ECOWAS had built a security architecture that encompassed both military and non-kinetic activities, as well as preventive diplomacy. There is also the Regional Plan of Action on Terrorism 2020-2024, as well as the operationalization of the ECOWAS Standby Force on Terrorism.
“I will ensure that we immediately harmonize these plans and mobilize resources as well as political will to make the initiatives a reality.” Terrorists do not respect borders, so we must work together to develop an effective regional counterterrorism strategy,” he said.
Tinubu expressed gratitude and honor upon being voted chairman of the summit for the first time, having recently been elected President of Nigeria.
Indeed, I am flattered and honored by this trust, and I want to assure you of my unwavering commitment to offer the required leadership and respect to the community’s interests, he said.
To emphasize his commitment to regional integration, he stated that he would prioritize political stability, peace, and security, regional economic integration, and the strengthening of ECOWAS institutions, stating that democracy and good governance are the foundations of peace and sustainable development.
Tinubu called ECOWAS to stand firm in defense of democracy, while condemning the rising pattern of coups d’etat in West Africa, where troops have abridged the public mandate.
“We must maintain our commitment to democracy.” Without democracy, there is no governance, freedom, or the rule of law. We will not allow another coup in West Africa. Democracy is the hardest form of government to manage, but it also the best, he said.
