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BOLA TINUBUS U TURN ON NIGER SANCTIONS RECEIVED WITH RELIEF IN NORTHERN NIGERIA
The warm welcome for the lifting of sanctions in both Niger and across the border in northern Nigeria also shows the unpopularity of his original, hard-line position.
The about-turn was partly because Niger, along with its fellow juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali, hugely increased the stakes by saying they would pull out of Ecowas altogether, raising serious questions about the bloc’s future.
The three countries had been suspended from Ecowas, which has been urging them to return to democratic rule.
It seems Ecowas realised its waning influence after the trio went ahead to form an alliance, sever ties with France and forge closer relations with Russia.
Nigerian political commentator Sani Bala thinks Mr Tinubu was too hasty eight months ago in trying to prove himself, and act like the “strong man”.
He had only been in office two months when Niger’s coup took place and had just taken over as chairman of Ecowas.
“It was a huge mistake from President Tinubu to impose those sanctions without fully appreciating the special relationship we have with Niger,” the Kano-based analyst told the BBC.
