By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
The Adhoc mediation committee set-up by the Parliament of Economic Community of West AFRICAN States on Friday, September 1, 2023, in continuation of its multi-stakeholders consultation towards finding amicable solution to the political stalemate in Niger republic, parleyed with a former Nigerian foreign affairs minister, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe in Abuja.
Though the meeting lasted for about three hours behind closed doors, no official statement was released.
The meeting with Kingibe is in continuation of the Ad-hoc committee’s consultations with critical stakeholders.
It will be recalled that the military junta in Niger republic had on July 26, overthrew the democratically elected government of President Mohamed Bazoum.
Recall also that the Committee had held similar consultion with the President of ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, at the ECOWAS secretariat, Abuja, a foremost Islamic scholar and national Chairman of the Jama’atu Izalatul Bidi’ah wa Ikamatus Sunnah, Abdullahi Bala Lau for consultation at his residence, the former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, in Lagos.
Ambassador Babagana Kingibe OV GCON, is a Nigerian diplomat of immense pedigree. A politician and civil servant who has held several high ranking government offices, culminating in his appointment as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation from 2007 to 2008.
He spent over a decade in the Foreign Service cadre and has been in politics since the 1970s serving six heads of state; most recently as a member of the inner circle of President Muhammadu Buhari.
