By Cross Udo, with agency report
Former Nigerian Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon (retd), has called on the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, to lift sanctions on Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic.
Gowon, who is one of the founding fathers of ECOWAS, made the call in an open letter to the Heads of State and the ECOWAS member states in Abuja on Wednesday evening.
The three countries, which were slammed with sanctions by the sub-regional politico-economic bloc following military takeovers in their respective countries, recently declared their decision to withdraw from the bloc.
Addressing a press conference at the ECOWAS Commission’s headquarters, Gowon, expressed concern that the decision by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic to exit ECOWAS threatened the unity of the bloc with far-reaching implications for ordinary citizens.
He said, “It saddens me to learn that ECOWAS is threatened with disunity following the announcement by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger – three important Member States, of their intention to leave the Community.
“The impact of such a decision will have far-reaching implications for the ordinary citizens who have been the major beneficiaries of regional integration.
“The ECOWAS authorities should immediately consider the implementation of the lifting of all sanctions that have been imposed on Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger.”
Gowon also urged the West African leaders, including leaders of the three existing countries, to reunite for peace and stability in the region.
“Therefore, on behalf of all the founding fathers of the Community and myself, I urge the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, including the leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, to put aside their differences and reunite for the peace, stability, and prosperity of our sub-region,” he added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the former Nigerian leader also presented the open letter to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray.
*Meets Tinubu, urges Nigerians to give President some time to address economic hardship
Earlier yesterday, Gowon appealed to Nigerians to give President Bola Tinubu time in his bid to solve the challenges facing the country.
Gowon appealed after he met behind closed doors with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The former military head of state said he was at the seat of power to discuss with the President on the crisis trying to tear apart the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and the economic challenges bedevilling the country.
Fielding questions on his advice to the president on how to tackle the economic situation in Nigeria, he said, “Well, I was telling him that no Nigerian leader that gets there and will not have all the report of what is being said about him. But certainly, there’s no doubt from what one hears and what one sees on the various media, etc.
“I think the government is trying their best to deal with the various problems of the country but with Nigerians, don’t worry you will get criticised but people who get there know better than you know. I think all that one can say is that Nigerians, we’ve got to give the president time for things to be done.
“And it is too early to sort of say absolute result, perfect result will be achieved now. That is my opinion. I know and if I can remember, when I was fighting the war I was told I was too slow that probably would not make it, and that we should now seek for discussion. Well, did we do it or not? They probably do not know the problem underground so that is where we are.”
On his mission at the Villa, Gowon said, “This is my first visit to Mr President since the inauguration but I was there at the inauguration to wish him well and all success. If you remember how busy he was after that with visitors, members of government, and various personalities, I couldn’t be able to see him.
“After that time, I had to travel abroad but from broad he was able to reach me on my birthday, and after that interesting social media report that I was dead.
“But when I came back I made several efforts but unfortunately I think because of his busy programme I couldn’t see him.
But luckily enough, this time he was able to allow me to see him and to discuss various matters especially the issue of the ECOWAS problem at the moment which I think needs to be resolved.
“And being the surviving leader, or founding fathers of the ECOWAS I think we had to discuss some of his plans to see what can be done to bring the matter under control.
“So, this is what has brought me here and we had a very interesting meeting and I’m sure some of you have read a report that I refused to attend the ECOWAS conference, isn’t it?
“Is it you that did that report? Who did that? You know trying to give that impression that it was me who was probably trying to sort of sabotage ECOWAS. No, that is not the case. I think there was a miscommunication but then it allowed Mr President to call me so that we could discuss what I was to do.
“So that ECOWAS meeting was part of the discussion we had today. So that has been done and solved and I hope that we can probably be able to have that message done later on today at ECOWAS headquarters probably by 5pm they will let you know.”
