Oppositions In Niger
Set To Restore Political Stability
Rebecca Mu’azu, Abuja
The
coalition of opposition parties in Niger has resolved to explore
every peaceful means for the restoration of democracy and
stability in the country.
The opposition parties which form eighty five percent of
political forces told Voce of Nigeria at the thirty seventh
summit of ECOWAS that the coalition was seeking the support of
the regional body to find a lasting solution to the political
crisis in Niger.
The former Nigerien Prime Minister and Speaker for the Coalition
of Democratic Forces, Amadou Boubacar Cisse, said the coalition
was using such peaceful means to avoid confrontation that would,
at the end, be detrimental to the people.
Mr. Cisse said if President Mamoudou Tandja refused to comply
with negotiations and directives of international organisations,
it would be left with no other choice than the resort to
violence means to achieve its aims.
Seeking intervention
The coalition requested the African Union to collaborate with
the mediation team of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, former
Nigerian Head of State, by designating a Special Envoy for
Niger.
The ECOWAS leaders encouraged the mediators to persevere with
his mediation efforts in Niger with the support of President
Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal and the Acting President of Nigeria,
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
The leaders urged the two parties in Niger to show greater
flexibility and put the interest of the country above all other
considerations in order to end the impasse and quickly return
the country to constitutional legality.
Constitutional illegality
It will be recalled that President Mamoudou Tandja in his
attempt to stand for a third term in office held a referendum,
scrapping presidential term limits.
Under the constitutional term limit, Mr. Tandja would have since
December 2009 stepped down when his second presidential mandate
ended.
However, despite criticism from opposition parties, trade unions
and human rights activists as well as the international
community, President Tandja remained committed to his cause.
The West African regional body, ECOWAS imposed sanctions on the
country and called for negotiations while at the same time
calling for the setting-up of a transitional government before
elections are duly held.
ECOWAS set up the Mediation Team, headed by Nigeria’s former
Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar to ensure the
peaceful transition of government.
However, since 21st December 2009, progress is yet to be
recorded and ECOWAS Heads of State and Government regretted the
limited progress made in the Inter-Nigerien Dialogue.
They are however hopeful that negotiations will now be more
fruitful and political struggles there-in are sorted out without
further delay.
Qasim/Yinka
