President Bola Tinubu yesterday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, took a tough stance against the growing coup attempt in African countries, calling on the continent’s leaders to respect democracy and the rule of law in order to ensure political stability.
Tinubu’s position is contained in his statement at a high-level event organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the margins of fifth mid-year African Union (AU) coordination meeting.
The chairman of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government implored African military institutions and states to recognise and respect the need for democratic renewal.
The Nigerian leader said coups d’état should be discouraged in the continent, especially in the face of challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, insecurity, and climate change.
President Tinubu, in his statement, presented by Ambassador Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said it was regrettable that West Africa, despite its numerous instruments and mechanisms for promoting democracy and good governance, is leading other regions in the use of unconstitutional means to change governments.
He warned that the ugly trend of the military straying into the political arena is causing threats to peace, security and stability, and engendering poverty, displacement, and humanitarian crises.
A statement by presidential spokesman, Dele Alake, quoted the president as saying:
“This ugly trend has only succeeded in threatening the peace, security and stability of the sub-region and by extension the African continent, leaving in its trail poverty, internally-displaced persons and humanitarian crisis.
In the same vein, this ugly trend has also led to food shortages and escalated health challenges.
“We therefore must take deliberate steps to address the root causes of unconstitutional changes and coups d’état in Africa.
As a continent, we cannot make progress toward achieving the goals and targets of the UN Agenda 2030 for sustainable development, as well as those of AU.