2027: Atiku Vows To Return Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso To ECOWAS

Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to work towards bringing Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso back into the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) if elected president in 2027.

Atiku also said his administration would consider deploying the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) to strengthen regional security and combat terrorism.

He made the commitments in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, where he outlined his proposed policies and criticised some of the policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

According to Atiku, ECOWAS adopted the wrong approach by isolating Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso following military coups that brought juntas to power in the three countries.

He argued that the countries should not have been isolated because of the military takeovers, stressing the need for dialogue and stronger regional cooperation.

“I will get the ECOWAS leaders to sit down and deliberate, and we will use ECOMOG troops to ensure peace,” he said.

Atiku also blamed the deterioration in relations between ECOWAS and the three Sahel countries partly on the position taken by President Tinubu, who was chairman of the regional bloc when Niger’s military seized power in 2023.

He said there was no justification for Nigeria to stop engaging with Niger because of the coup.

“I don’t see why Nigeria should say it will not engage with Niger because there was a coup. Niger and Nigeria are one people.

“Just because the military took over power does not mean Niger should be expelled from ECOWAS.

“I will ensure that there is understanding and that Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali return to ECOWAS,” Atiku said.

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso withdrew from ECOWAS after the regional bloc threatened military intervention in Niger following the 2023 military coup and demanded the restoration of constitutional rule.

The three countries subsequently formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), strengthening their political and security cooperation outside ECOWAS.

On Nigeria’s worsening security situation, Atiku pledged to tackle insecurity within one year if elected president.

He said his administration would increase the number of security personnel, provide them with adequate equipment and create employment opportunities for young Nigerians as part of measures to address insecurity.

“What I will do is increase the number of security personnel and provide equipment, while giving young people jobs.

“We believe that within one year, God willing, we will address these problems,” he said.

Nigeria continues to grapple with insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime, particularly in the North-East and North-West.

Atiku said stronger regional cooperation among West African countries would also be critical to tackling the security challenges confronting Nigeria and its neighbours.

The ADC presidential candidate also criticised the removal of petrol subsidy by the Tinubu administration, arguing that the policy had contributed significantly to the economic hardship being experienced by Nigerians.

Although he acknowledged that subsidy reform might be necessary, Atiku said it should be implemented gradually and only after measures had been put in place to cushion its impact on vulnerable Nigerians.

“People are suffering; there is poverty and unemployment. The removal of the fuel subsidy is the major cause of this.

“I have never seen Nigerians suffer as much as they are suffering at this time,” he said.

Atiku, however, clarified that his position on fuel subsidy would depend on the state of the economy when he assumes office.

“Even if you are going to remove the fuel subsidy, you cannot do it at once. You must first improve the lives of the poor before you start removing it gradually,” he said.

President Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy on May 29, 2023, shortly after his inauguration.

The policy led to a sharp increase in petrol prices, with transportation and other living costs also rising.

The Federal Government has defended the decision, saying funds previously spent on subsidy could instead be channelled into infrastructure, social intervention programmes and other development initiatives.

Atiku, 79, is seeking the presidency for the sixth time, having previously contested the office in 2007, 2019 and 2023, while he was unsuccessful in securing his party’s presidential ticket in 2011 and 2015.

He emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023 but lost the elections to Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu respectively.

Atiku served as Vice-President under former President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007.

He was initially elected governor of Adamawa State in 1999 under the PDP but later became Obasanjo’s running mate.

He was also among prominent political figures involved in the formation of the PDP ahead of Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

With the 2027 presidential election approaching, Atiku is expected to face President Tinubu, who is seeking a second term, in what is likely to be another major contest for the Nigerian presidency.