Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has announced sanctions against individuals collaborating with the military junta in the Republic of Niger.
The leadership of the regional body, on Tuesday, resolved to impose financial sanctions on the individuals and entities believed to be supporting the military junta in the Francophone country.
Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on media and publicity, told state house correspondents that the ECOWAS chairman has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to implement the financial sanctions on those concerned.
The presidential spokesperson did not specify the sanctions and also did not reveal the identities of the individuals affected.
“Mr President has directed the acting CBN governor to levy another slate of sanctions against entities and individuals associated with the military junta in Niger public.
“I said that intentionally I didn’t make a mistake, because I was given permission to make that statement and I emphasised that this is not an individual action taken by an individual president on behalf of an individual nation.
“This is an action taken yes, by the ECOWAS chairman who is the president of Nigeria, but standing on the authority provided by the consensus resolution of all ECOWAS members and heads of state with regard to financial sanctions being levied by ECOWAS members states against the military junta in Niger Republic.
“There is an authority that we are standing on. It is not the Nigerian government’s authority, it is the authority of the resolution passed in public before now,” the statement said.
Ngelale said the seven-day ultimatum issued against the military junta is not a personal decision taken by President Bola Tinubu but the decision of ECOWAS.
“Concerning the ultimatum given to the military Junta in Niger Republic, it is an ECOWAS mandate, and it is not a Nigerian ultimatum. It is not a Nigerian mandate,” he said.
“And the office of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also serving as the chairman of ECOWAS, to emphasise this point, that due to certain domestic and international media coverage, tending toward a personalization of the ECOWAS sub regional position to his person and to our nation individually.
“It is because of this that Mr President has deemed it necessary to state unequivocally that the mandate and ultimatum issued by ECOWAS is that of ECOWAS’ position.”
For more stories follow us on Facebook @Nigerian Kicker.
When the cock dies before the arrival of the knife, what should we expect?