By Cross Udo, Abuja

The Islamic clerics under the umbrella of Ulama’a yesterday briefed President Bola Tinubu on their meetings with the military junta and their fellow Islamic clerics in the Niger Republic and their efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the political crisis in the country.

The Islamic clerics comprising different Islamic sects, after the meeting, insisted that they did not want war or any military action in the country that shared boundaries with Nigeria.

Recall that since the military junta led by Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani, overthrew the democratically elected Niger President, Mohamed Bazoum, on July 26 in a bloodless coup, the authorities of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS Heads of State and Government have insisted that the deposed President should be reinstated.

Besides, ECOWAS, which has President Tinubu as its Chairman had pronounced many sanctions against the military junta-led government including military actions if they failed to reinstate the democratically elected government.

In their second meeting with the President, the Islamic clerics led by Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, maintained their initial position of resolving the political crisis amicably without the use of military might.

*Tinubu: Go back to negotiate with the junta

Consequently, the President mandated them to go back to Niger to continue the negotiations with the junta

The delegation led by Sheikh Bauchi, met with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja to brief him on their dialogue with the military junta in Niger Republic on behalf of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

President Tinubu as the Chairman of the ECOWAS’ Authority of Heads of State and Government, approved their return to Niger Republic for another round of dialogue with the military junta.

After the meeting with President Tinubu, Sheikh Bauchi, who spoke to State House correspondents, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to meet with the President.

He also emphasised the Ulama’a commitment to peaceful and amicable dialogue with the military junta in the Niger Republic to achieve peace in the region.

Sheikh Bauchi called for fervent prayers from the entire community across the region to ensure peace and harmony continue to reign.

He said, “First and foremost, we thank Allah for giving us the opportunity and we appreciate and commend the efforts of His Excellency the President. As you saw, we have just met with him and told him all that went on there in Niger and he appreciated and still gave us the mandate that we should continue to make this dialogue and discuss with the junta over there, because they gave us listening ears and we are sure, through peaceful discussions we’ll be able to achieve what we want.

“We are still going back there to ensure that through peaceful and amicable ways, as spiritual leaders, we’ll be able to do and contribute what we can be able to do.

“What do we want? We don’t want war, we want peace to reign in our region. So may Allah continue to bless the President for giving us this opportunity.

“We want serious and fervent prayers from the entire community, across the region so that Allah will grant us that so that peace and harmony will continue to reign. Without peace and harmony, there’s nothing we can do, we can’t even enjoy the dividends of democracy and we cannot even practice our religion.

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“I’m optimistic, Insha Allah, with this intervention, Allah will answer our prayers.”

The Ulama’a who are opposed to war with the Nigerien military, as threatened by ECOWAS, said that apart from the dire consequences of the use of force, they were enjoined by their religious faith and the Quran to seek mediation first in cases like this before resorting to war.

Also speaking to journalists, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Malagi, confirmed that the Ulama’a have briefed Mr. President on the situation, and the effort is still ongoing.

He said President Tinubu is interested in exploring peaceful options in this matter and that nothing is off the table, adding that he asked the Islamic clerics to continue with their dialogue

According to him, “The Ulama’a will continue to engage with the military junta and other stakeholders in Niger Republic. Mr. President has appreciated their efforts to find a solution to this issue and has encouraged them to continue. He has thanked them, and efforts are ongoing.

“The next line of action is that dialogue will continue, and the Ulama’a will continue to engage with the military junta and other stakeholders in the Niger Republic.

“The President is interested in pursuing a peaceful resolution to this crisis, but nothing is off the table.

“The Minister of Information and National Orientation has promised Nigerians that there will be no room for lies and fake news, and dissemination of credible information will be his watchword

“Mr President has listened to them and they’ll continue this dialogue. Mr President is interested in exploring peaceful options in this, but nothing is off the table. He has asked the Ulama’a to continue with their dialogue and they will continue to do that.”

Asked what should be the next line of action, the minister said “The next line of action is that dialogue will continue. Mr President as the head of ECOWAS is interested in pursuing a resolution of this crisis, but like I said, nothing is off the table. Mr President has said they should continue to engage and the Ulama’a will continue to do that.

“By the way, he has appreciated their efforts to find the solution to this issue, he’s encouraging them to continue. He has thanked them and efforts are ongoing.”

*‘I’m managing a very serious situation, says President

In a statement released hours after the meeting, Tinubu declared that he was managing a very serious situation, saying he is the one holding back the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, heads of State and government.

Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, also implored a delegation of Islamic scholars (Ulamas), who were previously engaged in discussions to facilitate the restoration of constitutional democratic governance in Niger Republic, to expedite progress in their ongoing dialogue with the military junta.

The Islamic leaders had informed the President that the military junta was open to deepening dialogue with ECOWAS as more steps are being taken to forestall armed conflict with a more detailed acceptance of the ECOWAS position by Niger military council officials.

The President, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale was quoted as saying, “I am managing a very serious situation. If you take ECOWAS aside, other people will react, those who are outside of our control. I am the one holding those sides back. I am the one holding back ECOWAS.”

Addressing the urgency of the situation, the President added, “Even as of this morning, I have been inundated with phone calls on the readiness of countries with their military force and contributions. However, I told them to wait. I am meeting with the Ulamas and I will get back to you.”

Tinubu told the Islamic delegation that the military junta must be held accountable for putting the entire people of the Niger Republic in jeopardy.

“They cannot use the gun given to them to protect the sovereignty of the country and turn it against the people of the country,” he said.

Tinubu pledged that ECOWAS will remain steadfast in its commitment to diplomatically engage with all stakeholders and seek a peaceful resolution to the impasse in Niger Republic.

“I will draw a line in the sand and ask you to make arrangements to go back to Niger Republic,” he stated.