Guinean: Yemi Osinbajo Tells ECOWAS To Take Strategic Moves To Avoid Future Coup Occurrence
To prevent coups d’état in the sub-region and even on the continent, the Economic Community of West African States must take aggressive measures.
This is because he stated that any type of unconstitutional power seizure is just unacceptable and has no place in the twenty-first century.
This was stated by Yemi Osinbajo during a virtual special Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS member-states yesterday.
Laolu Akande, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, said the meeting, which was attended by ten ECOWAS leaders as well as others, including UN representatives, came after Guinean President Alpha Conde was deposed in a coup on September 5. This resulted in his arrest and confinement by the country’s military junta, as well as the collapse of the Guinean government, suspension of the Constitution, and military takeover.
“Stating Nigeria’s position on the unfortunate development in Guinea, I join all well-meaning global leaders to express in the strongest terms the condemnation of the Government of Nigeria of this unconstitutional change of Government; a development that could seriously destabilize the Republic of Guinea.” the Vice President said.
He added, “What happened in Guinea is a brazen disregard for the provisions of ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which clearly states that every accession to power must be made through a free, fair, and transparent election.”
“The unconstitutional seizure of power in any shape or form is simply unacceptable,” noting that “four coups within the last few months is a dangerous trend indeed,” in the sub-region.”
While showing worry, Yemi Osinbajo went on to propose a suggestion that ECOWAS Chairman and Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo later referred to as “a proposal of great weight.”
“We are sliding back to the infamous 60s. Our zero-tolerance for coups is important but clearly insufficient. Are there further steps that we can take to prevent coup d’etat?
“Could we, for example, work out an understanding with the UN, AU, Commonwealth and possibly, even the development finance institutions we are a part of to act in unity to suspend a country where there has been a seizure of power from all these bodies simultaneously?” Yemi Osinbajo suggested.
In the same line, the Vice President noted that it was critical that countries in the sub-region observe and apply the prohibitions against unconstitutional ascension to power in all cases.
“He then called on “the Authority to immediately invoke the provisions of Article 45 of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance by suspending Guinea from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies and statutory meetings. We should also take any other necessary punitive measures that will ensure that the military junta does not overstay in power.”
“We must forestall a repeat of military interventions and the instability it engenders in the West African sub-region. In this connection, Nigeria wishes to once again urge all to always respect the principles of democracy and the constitutions of your respective countries,” Osinbajo stated.
The VP also urged the ECOWAS Commission to “immediately appoint a Mediator to lead the region’s genuine engagement with the military junta, all political actors, and civil society groups in Guinea towards finding a lasting solution that will return the country to democratic rule as soon as possible.”
He added that “ECOWAS must use its regional mechanisms efficiently to engage the military junta and if necessary, provide support for them to return the country to normalcy and democratic rule,” he added.
Osinbajo asked Guinea’s military junta to secure President Condé’s personal safety as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all others jailed alongside him.
“The safety of lives and property of the people of Guinea must also be guaranteed. The military must draw up a timetable for a civilian-led transition and commence the process of exiting the Guinean political stage and return the country to constitutional order and civilian rule,” according to Osinbajo.
