Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has appealed to the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic community of West African States (ECOWAS) to reunite Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which have indicated interests to quit the regional bloc.
The three countries last month announced that they were pulling out of the bloc following protracted disagreement with ECOWAS over military regimes that toppled democratic governments in the three countries.
Another West African country, Guinea, is also under military rule but is yet to announce its withdrawal from the bloc even as all the West African countries under military rule have come under varying sanctions.
Gowon’s appeal was contained in a letter addressed to the Heads of State and Government of the region, which he read during a press conference in Abuja yesterday, and was sent through the ECOWAS Commission.
He urged the West African leaders to lift sanctions imposed on Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger in order resolve the problems amicably.
Gowon, who is one of the founding fathers of ECOWAS, and the only one still alive, expressed concern that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger gave notice to ECOWAS about their intention to quit the community stressing that this move has severe implications for the citizens of the sub-region.
He therefore called on all West African leaders to immediately consider the implementation of the following: “lifting of all sanctions that have been imposed on Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger; withdrawal by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger of their notices to leave ECOWAS; and participation of all 15 ECOWAS Heads of State in a Summit to discuss the future of the community, regional security and stability, as well as the role of the international community given the current geopolitical context.”
He said further “as one of the founders of our regional economic community, it is incumbent upon me to speak on behalf of the 14 Heads of State and Government who joined me in Lagos, on 27th May 1975, to establish ECOWAS.
“Since its inception, the regional bloc has made a number of major accomplishments, including trade liberalisation, right of West Africans to live legitimately in any country within the Community, as well as successful peacekeeping operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone. ECOWAS, despite its shortcomings, has become an example of regional integration for the wider continent.
“Having achieved all of the above, it saddens me to learn that ECOWAS is threatened with disunity following the announcement by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, three important member states, of their intention to leave the Community. The impact of such a decision will have far-reaching implications for the ordinary citizens who have been the major beneficiaries of regional integration.”
He urged the ECOWAS leaders, including the leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, to put aside their differences and reunite for the peace, stability and prosperity of the sub-region.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, who received the letter, lauded General Gowon for his enormous efforts to bring unity and stability to the region, adding that he will promptly deliver it to the West African leaders, who will deliberate on the issues and recommendations in the forthcoming Extraordinary Heads of State and Government summit scheduled for Saturday, February 24 in Abuja, Nigeria.
