President Tinubu has emerged as the new ECOWAS chairman in an unanimous endorsement by his counterparts at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government on Sunday in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria's President, who emerged as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), charged the body to stand firm in defence of democracy.
President Tinubu, the newest member of West Africa's exclusive club of Heads of State, accepted the honor enthusiastically on behalf of Nigeria, with a solemn pledge to bear the responsibility of the office and run an inclusive administration of the regional organization, according to a statement issued on Sunday by Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy.
Regarding the talk of a coup d’état in the region, Tinubu said, "We must stand firm on democracy. There is no governance, freedom and rule of law without Democracy. We will not accept coup after coup in West Africa again. Democracy is very difficult to manage but it is the best form of government.
"There is no one here among us who did not campaign to be a leader. We didn't give our soldiers resources, we didn't invest in them, in their boots, in their training to violate the freedom of the people.â€
“To turn their guns against civil authorities is a violation of the principles upon which they were hired, which is, to defend the sovereignty of their nations. We must not sit in ECOWAS as toothless bulldogs," the new ECOWAS chairman warned.
The Nigerian leader also cautioned that terrorism and a developing trend of military takeover had reached dangerous proportions in the sub-region, necessitating immediate and coordinated response.
He claimed that instability and creeping terrorism were impeding the region's prosperity and development.
President Tinubu urged member-states to take collaborative action, promising that frameworks would be harmonized under his leadership in order to realize ECOWAS's objectives.
“On peace and security, the threat has reached an alarming level, and needs urgent actions in addressing the challenges. Indeed, without a peaceful environment, progress and development in the region will continue to remain elusive. In this regard, we must remain committed to the utilisation of all regional frameworks at our disposal to address the menace of insecurity,†he declared.
Tinubu noted that ECOWAS had developed a security architecture, which “covers a wide range of areas that involved kinetic and non-kinetic operations, including preventive diplomacy. There is also the Regional Plan of Action on Fight against Terrorism 2020-2024 as well as the operationalization of the ECOWAS Standby Force on Fight Against Terrorismâ€.
"I will ensure that we immediately harmonize these plans and mobilize resources as well as the political will towards the actualisation of the initiatives. As terrorists do not respect boundaries, we must work collectively to have an effective regional counterterrorism measure,†he further stated.
President Tinubu stated that he was humbled and honored by the trust to assume the leadership of the regional body on his first participation at the summit, having just started out as Nigeria's elected leader, and pledged his commitment to serve the community's interests.
He said: "Indeed, I’m humbled and honored by this trust, and want to assure you of my unalloyed commitment to provide the necessary leadership with dedication to serve the interest of the community."
To emphasize his commitment to regional integration, Nigeria's president stated that he would prioritize political stability, peace and security, regional economic integration, and the strengthening of ECOWAS institutions, stating that democracy and good governance are the enduring cornerstones of peace and sustainable development.
In the same vein, he said: "You will all agree with me that democracy and good governance are the cornerstones of peace and sustainable development of every society. I’m fully committed to deepening democracy and good governance in the region.
"We must strengthen our democratic institutions and ensure the respect for human rights and the rule of law. I will enhance engagements with the countries in transition to ensure their quick return to democratic rule."