In order to further investigate the diplomatic route to resolve the political situation that followed the nation’s coup d’état on July 26, President Bola Tinubu has approved the travel of a group of Islamic clerics to the Republic of Niger.
The democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown in the coup, and the coup leaders have been holding him in custody ever since.
Following a meeting with the religious leaders led by Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, Tinubu, the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), sanctioned the travel on Thursday.
The religious leaders had come to the Aso Villa to inform the President of the results of their recent trip to Niger, where they had discussions with the junta under the leadership of General Abdourahamane Tchiani.
Other religious leaders who travelled to Niger last include Sheikhs Bala Lau, Kabir Gombe, Yakubu Musa, and Mansur Sokoto.
The Islamic leaders are working to keep conflict from breaking out in Niger.
If the coup leaders did not restore Bazoum, ECOWAS had threatened to use military force to compel the junta in Niger to do so.
A three-year restoration to democracy was General Tchiani’s suggestion.
ECOWAS, though, turned down the plan.
