Atiku Raises Alarm Over Implication Of Niger, Mali, B’ Faso From ECOWAS

A former Vice-President and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the February 25, 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday, has raised an alarm over the fallout of the exit of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Atiku, in a terse message posted on his X platform on Sunday, described the situation as a “serious diplomatic meltdown,” saying Nigeria must now double its efforts to protect its security interests.

He called on the government to keep its focus on the fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and others in focus while the situation is appraised.

“Reports about the withdrawal of three countries from our sub-regional body, @ecowas_cedeao, are concerning. It is a matter of serious diplomatic meltdown. We must keep the country’s national security interest, especially the fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and others in focus while we appraise the situation,” Atiku said.

It would be recalled that the military regimes of the three Sahel countries who have been at loggerheads with ECOWAS over sanctions imposed on them, announced their withdrawal from the regional bloc in a joint statement on Sunday.

The announcement had triggered concerns with many believing that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism could be affected considering that the country borders Niger Republic up north.