General Abdourahmane Tchiani, the head of the military junta in the Niger Republic, has defended the soldiers’ decision to depose President Mohammed Bazoum and seize control of the West African nation.
The leader of the coup said that their choice was made with the best interests of the nation in mind.
General Tchiani also stated that if they had not moved as soon as they did, Nigeria as well as Niger could have been affected by the oncoming threat.
The leader of the Nigerian Islamic clerics, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, whose team met with the coup leaders over the weekend in an effort to resolve the political situation in the Niger Republic, was quoted as having made the revelation in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.
Niger Coup: You Have 7-days To Reinstate Bazoom As President – ECOWAS Gives Tchani Ultimatum
“He said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter.
“General Tchiani, however, said it was painful to the coup leaders that the ECOWAS leaders did not hear their side of the matter before issuing ultimatum to them to quit office.
“He claimed the coup was well intended, stating that they struck to stave off an imminent threat that would have affected not only Niger Republic but also Nigeria,” the statement read in part.
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