Niger Coup: Kyari Coordinates Ulama Meeting With Junta In Niamey
By Saidu Abubakar
The attendant hullabaloo surrounding the military coup in Niger Republic continues to attract interventionists perspective, especially from neighbouring Federal Republic of Nigeria as a team of Ulama, led by Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, were on Saturday, received by the Junta in Niamey.
Earlier, the 14th Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, in his personal capacity, met with the Junta in Niamey, and subsequently had same meeting with President Bola Tinubu, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS Heads of State all in effort to ensure lasting solution to the tension that ensue in the region as the result of the coup that saw the ouster of President Mohammed Bazoum.
Reports have it that the Junta, recently compelled the ousted Bazoum to sign a letter of resignation as Nigerien President.
Valuechain quoting a Sunnah TV official video clip reports that Sheikh Kabiru Haruna Gombe, Secretary of Izalatul Bidi’a Waiqmatus Sunnah, during an introduction of members of the delegation to the Junta, said the team, in addition to Mallam Mele Kyari, also include a director from the Presidency to ensure full compliance with President Tinubu’s truce move.
He also introduced other members of the team from the Tijjaniya sect as well as the Vice Chancellor of Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila in Kano State, Professor Salisu Shehu among others.
Sheikh Gombe also revealed during the introduction that when the team visited President Tinubu in Abuja, Professor Salisu Shehu exhausted the time allotted to him while explaining the implications of taking military action against Niger Republic to President Tinubu, which led the President to add more time to the Vice Chancellor in order for him to conclude his point which (Tinubu) was listening with rapt attention.
According to Sheikh Gombe, President Tinubu has assured that Professor Salisu Shehu would be invited to speak at the next ECOWAS emergency meeting, on the war implications.
According to Mallam Gombe, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the NNPCL, Mallam Mele Kyari, who was visibly among the team, was directed by President Tinubu to coordinate logistics of the team’s visit to Niamey.
Though Valuechain is yet to have full details of the meeting, it gathered that it was very successful having secured the nod of the Junta to open a new vista to parley with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
It would be recalled that earlier, former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) along with Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Saad Abubakar III had led a delegation set up by President Bola Tinubu to meet with the military Junta in Niamey which they were shunned, and later granted audience by the Junta subordinates.
Contrary to speculations that war between ECOWAS and Niger Republic is imminent, the visit by the Ulama endorsed by President Tinubu has indicated that there is still room for negotiation before resorting to any military action.
