By John Ikani
President Bola Tinubu has called upon his Senegalese counterpart to engage with neighbouring countries seeking to withdraw from the regional bloc and encourage their return.
During a meeting in Abuja on Thursday with President Bassirou Faye, President Tinubu highlighted Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, all currently under military rule following recent coups, as focal points for this outreach.
“As the chairman of Ecowas, I am inviting you to collaborate and meet those other brothers. To persuade them to come back to the fold,” President Tinubu urged during the discussion.
In addition to reuniting the fragmented bloc, President Tinubu emphasized the need for a synchronized effort across West Africa to tackle various regional challenges, including terrorism, banditry, human trafficking, and poverty.
President Faye echoed the sentiment, advocating for the revitalization of the Nigeria-Senegal joint commission to bolster bilateral relations, particularly in diplomacy and trade.
He underscored the importance of collective action among Nigeria, Senegal, and neighbouring countries to engage in dialogue and encourage the return of those nations to the Ecowas fold, emphasizing shared democratic values and principles.
