BEVERLY HILLS, January 9, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari will on Wednesday lead a delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to The Gambia.
THEWILL recalls that Buhari, On December 19, led some ECOWAS leaders to Gambia to persuade President Yahaya Jammeh to step down which was futile.
Jammeh refused to give them his commitment on handing over to Adama Barrow, winner of the election but accused the regional body of declaring war on his country and vowed to resist any form of intimidation as he shut down the electoral office and some radio stations.
According to Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Buhari, hosted the ECOWAS leaders to a meeting in Abuja on Monday with Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia) and Macky Sall (Senegal) in attendance.
Briefing reporters on the outcome of the meeting, Onyeama said that after deliberating on the current state of affairs in The Gambia, they agreed to respect constitution of the country.
“They agreed on the determination to resolve The Gambian political crisis in a manner that every step of the way conforms with the constitution of The Gambia and respect the will of the people,” he said.
“They expressed particular concern at the deteriorating situation that has been reported in respect of security in The Gambia in particular, the closure of some of the radio stations and media and house, arrest that have been taking place and also the refugee situation that is being created with the mass exodus of a large number of people to the interior and to neighbouring countries.
“In view of this, the meeting agreed that a certain number of presidents will visit in two days’ time, President Jammeh in The Gambia and that again will comprise the mediator President Buhari together with the President of Liberia and hopefully, the President of Sierra-Leon and the co-mediator the former President of Ghana (John Mahamma) as well as the president of the ECOWAS commission, the Special Representatives of United Nations and also a Representative of the African Union.
“So, this meeting will take place in two days time on Wednesday to discuss with President Jammeh the need the imperative the constitution.”
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