President Bola Tinubu on Sunday urged West African leaders to unite against threats to democracy, citing a recent coup attempt in Benin Republic and renewed instability in Guinea-Bissau. Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, spoke at the opening of the 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Abuja.
“The external threats confronting West Africa today demand nothing less than a united front, terrorism, violent extremism, unconstitutional changes of government, transnational organised crime, arms for liberation, cyber insecurity, climate shocks, food insecurity and irregular migration,” Tinubu said. He warned that the region is most vulnerable when weakened from within, stressing shared history and kinship among member states.
Tinubu said Nigeria believes persuasion and solidarity, not force, should guide ECOWAS through its challenges. “We remain persuaded that fraternity, not force, must define the future of our community,” he said, urging member states to speak with one voice on security, governance and economic stability amid recurring coups in the region.