Guinea: We Must Prevent Coups – Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged the ECOWAS to take steps to prevent further overthrow.

Gatekeepers News reports that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to take steps to prevent further overthrow.

Osinbajo made the call while representing President Muhammadu Buhari at a virtual Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS member-states on the developments in Guinea and Mali.

The meeting was attended by 10 of the ECOWAS leaders and others, including representatives from the United Nations.

Osinbajo condemned the coup, warning that President Alpha Conde’s ouster could seriously destabilize the Republic of Guinea.

Osinbajo added that the unconstitutional seizure of power in any shape or form is simply unacceptable, adding that “four coups within the last few months is a dangerous trend indeed”.

Osinajo said all necessary punitive measures must be taken to ensure that the military junta does not overstay in power.

He said, “What happened in Guinea is a brazen disregard for the provisions of ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which clearly states that every accession to power must be made through free, fair and transparent election.

“We are sliding back to the infamous 60s. Our zero-tolerance for coups is important but clearly insufficient. Are there further steps that we can take to prevent coups d’etat?

“Could we, for example, work out an understanding with the UN, AU, Commonwealth and possibly, even the development finance institutions we are a part of to act in unity to suspend a country where there has been a seizure of power from all these bodies simultaneously?

“We must forestall a repeat of military interventions and the instability it engenders in the West African sub-region. In this connection, Nigeria wishes to once again urge all to always respect the principles of democracy and the constitutions of your respective countries.

“Let me reiterate the imperative for the Malian Transitional government to strictly respect the electoral timetable unveiled on 15th April 2021. I further call for the continued support and collaboration of all the major players in the country’s march towards a successful transition.”