President Bola Tinubu has emerged as the new chairperson of ECOWAS. He takes over from the President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo, who completed his tenure at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government on Sunday in Bissau, the capital city of Guinea-Bissau.
The Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake, revealed this in a statement he signed on Sunday titled, ‘President Tinubu emerges as new ECOWAS Chairman, harps on regional security.’
The summit is the first international engagement of President Tinubu on the African continent since his swearing-in on 29 May.
In his remarks, Tinubu called on ECOWAS to “stand firm on democracy,” declaring that, “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.”
Tinubu warned that terrorism and the emerging pattern of coup d’etat in West Africa had reached alarming levels and demanded urgent, concerted actions.
He called for collective action from member-states, pledging that under his leadership, frameworks would be harmonised to actualise the dreams of ECOWAS.
According to the statement, in a unanimous endorsement, Tinubu emerged as the new Chairman of the ECOWAS at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government on Sunday in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
President Tinubu, who is the latest entrant into the exclusive club of Heads of State in West Africa, enthusiastically accepted the honour, on behalf of Nigeria, with a solemn pledge to bear the responsibility of the office and run an inclusive administration of the regional organisation.
The Nigerian leader, however, warned that the threat to peace in the sub-region had reached an alarming proportion with terrorism and emerging pattern of military takeover that now demand urgent and concerted actions.
He said insecurity and creeping terrorism were stunting the progress and development of the region.
President Tinubu called for a collective action from member-states, pledging that under his leadership, frameworks would be harmonized to actualize the dreams of ECOWAS.
