Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to work towards bringing Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso back into the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) if elected president in 2027.
Atiku also said his administration would consider deploying the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) to strengthen regional security and combat terrorism.
He made the commitments in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, where he outlined his proposed policies and criticised some of the policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
According to Atiku, ECOWAS adopted the wrong approach by isolating Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso following military coups that brought juntas to power in the three countries.
He argued that the countries should not have been isolated because of the military takeovers, stressing the need for dialogue and stronger regional cooperation.
“I will get the ECOWAS leaders to sit down and deliberate, and we will use ECOMOG troops to ensure peace,” he said.
Atiku also blamed the deterioration in relations between ECOWAS and the three Sahel countries partly on the position taken by President Tinubu, who was chairman of the regional bloc when Niger’s military seized power in 2023.
He said there was no justification for Nigeria to stop engaging with Niger because of the coup.
“I don’t see why Nigeria should say it will not engage with Niger because there was a coup. Niger and Nigeria are one people.
“Just because the military took over power does not mean Niger should be expelled from ECOWAS.
“I will ensure that there is understanding and that Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali return to ECOWAS,” Atiku said.
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso withdrew from ECOWAS after the regional bloc threatened military intervention in Niger following the 2023 military coup and demanded the restoration of constitutional rule.
The three countries subsequently formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), strengthening their political and security cooperation outside ECOWAS.
On Nigeria’s worsening security situation, Atiku pledged to tackle insecurity within one year if elected president.
He said his administration would increase the number of security personnel, provide them with adequate equipment and create employment opportunities for young Nigerians as part of measures to address insecurity.
“What I will do is increase the number of security personnel and provide equipment, while giving young people jobs.
“We believe that within one year, God willing, we will address these problems,” he said.
Nigeria continues to grapple with insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime, particularly in the North-East and North-West.
Atiku said stronger regional cooperation among West African countries would also be critical to tackling the security challenges confronting Nigeria and its neighbours.
The ADC presidential candidate also criticised the removal of petrol subsidy by the Tinubu administration, arguing that the policy had contributed significantly to the economic hardship being experienced by Nigerians.
