Yakubu Gowon Shun FG, ECOWAS’ Invitation To Speak On Crisis
Yakubu Gowon, the former Nigerian head of state and one of the founding fathers of ECOWAS, has declined the invitation to intervene in the ongoing crises within the regional body.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, had organized a press conference at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja, where Gowon was expected to address the current state of affairs in the region.
However, Gowon has reportedly shunned their invitation.
The matters at hand included the issue of coups and the subsequent threat by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to withdraw from the organization.
The three military juntas accused ECOWAS of being influenced by foreign powers and betraying its founding principles.
ECOWAS has been mounting pressure on the three nations to restore civilian governance by implementing sanctions and rejecting proposals for prolonged democratic transitions.
This comes after they accused the regional organization of failing to assist them in combating terrorism and instability, as well as enforcing unlawful, cruel, and reckless sanctions in the aftermath of coups.