ECOWAS Elects Tinubu New Chairman

BY EDMOND ODOK – Nigeria’s President Bola Amed Tinubu on Sunday emerged as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He was elected at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Bissau, capital of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

President Tinubu, who spoke after receiving the handover notes from outgoing Chairman of the regional bloc and President Umaro Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, said; “We will take democracy seriously, Democracy is very tough but it is the form of government.”

The ECOWAS Chairmanship position is held on a rotating basis for a one-year tenure by one of the member-countries Heads of State or Government. Immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari also occupied the office between 2018 and 2019.

In liaison with the ECOWAS Commission President, whose mandate covers the day-to-day management and implementation of ECOWAS policies and decisions, the ECOWAS Chairman plays a strategic role in conflict resolution and advocacy across the sub-region

President Tinubu departed Nigeria on Saturday for the meeting in Guinea-Bissau and he takes over from President Umaro Embalo of Guinea Bissau who mounted the saddle as ECOWAS Chairman on 4th July 2022, at the 61st summit held in Accra, the Ghanaian capital.

Reports indicate that ECOWAS member countries used the occasion to express gratitude to the outgoing Chairman and also extend congratulations to Nigeria on the successful conduct of the election that saw Bola Tinubu’s emergence as the President of Nigeria.

In his welcome remarks, Immediate Past Chairman of the regional body, President Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, praised Nigeria for the sustenance of peace and strengthening of democracy in the West African region.

Also speaking at the session, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, on behalf of the community and institutions saluted President Tinubu on his election and assumption of office as Nigeria’s President.

Touray, who described Nigeria as the biggest economy and country in Africa, also used the occasion to appreciate President Embaló for his leadership as Chair of the ECOWAS in the past twelve months, stating that the community had recorded several achievements during the period.

Similarly, the Commission’s President also congratulated the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, on his re-election at the polls.