President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his commitment to persuading the military leaders of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to return to the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.
The military governments of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso cut ties with ECOWAS earlier this year after the regional bloc imposed sanctions on them following coups in their countries.
Despite this setback, President Tinubu, chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, remains optimistic about the possibility of reconciliation.
Speaking at a meeting with ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja on Friday, President Tinubu said: “It is in our hearts to make sure that security is enhanced and that constitutional government is defended and promoted in our region.”
He acknowledged the challenges faced by ECOWAS since the three member states announced their exit. “It has been a challenging tenure for me since three members indicated their exit,” he said.
President Tinubu emphasised the importance of collective action, saying: “No one man is smarter than the group of heads that is here. We will do everything to offer a hand of friendship to them and give them reasons to come back to us.”
With his characteristic resolve, President Tinubu made it clear that ECOWAS will not give up on its errant members. “We will work hard to persuade them to return, whichever way,” he said.
Nigeria’s Olympic Campaign Ends Medal-Less, But with Promising Signs
Team Nigeria’s participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics came to a close on Saturday without a single medal, marking the country’s worst performance since the 2012 London Olympics.
Despite fielding 88 athletes across 12 sports, the team failed to secure any medals, making it the eighth time Nigeria has returned from the Games empty-handed.
Top medal contenders, including Tobi Amusan, Ese Brume, and Blessing Oborududu, fell short of expectations. Amusan, the world record holder in the women’s 100 metres hurdles, failed to make the final, while Brume finished fifth in the women’s long jump and Oborududu ended her contest without a podium finish.
The team’s performance was also marred by controversies, including the exclusion of Favour Ofili from the women’s 100 metres race despite qualifying and Ese Ukpeseraye’s revelation that she had to borrow a track bike from the German team to compete in the Keirin cycling event.
However, there were some bright spots for Nigeria. The women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, made history by qualifying for the quarterfinals for the first time.
Ofili became the first Nigerian to reach the women’s 200m final in 28 years, and Samuel Ogazi broke a 38-year record by making the men’s 400m final.
Additionally, Nigeria had three athletes – Brume, Ruth Usoro, and Prestina Ochonogor – in the women’s long jump final.
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