President Bola Tinubu is currently having a closed-door meeting with a delegation of Nigerian Muslim leaders (Ulamma), led by Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
At the onset of the Niger coup, a group of Islamic leaders offered to interface with the coup plotters to avert a full-blown war situation in the West African country.
They had offered to undertake mediation on behalf of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). After seeking approval, they met with the junta’s head, General Abdourahamane Tchiani.
Thursday’s meeting at the Presidential Villa Abuja is apparently for the Ulamma to brief President Tinubu, who is the chairman of the ECOWAS’ Authority of Heads of State and Government, on the outcome of their visit to Niger over the political situation in the country.
Recall that ECOWAS leaders had met in Abuja twice in recent times, where they condemned the coup in Niger, slapped sanctions on the West African country, and demanded the reinstatement of President Mohammed Bazoum, failing which they would deploy military personnel to restore political stability.
Despite the threats from ECOWAS, the junta leaders went ahead to propose a three-year transition programme, prompting the suspension of Niger from the African Union.
The Ulamma, who are opposed to war with Niger, have been trying frantically to avert a war-torn situation in the West Africa subregion.