ECOWAS laments Burundi crisis, commends Nigeria elections

The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, on Saturday, described as unfortunate and uncalled for, the crisis in the East African nation of Burundi.

The ECOWAS Parliament’s verdict came just as the Council of Ministers of the sub-regional body expressed deep relief and profound commendation for the government and people of Nigeria over their recently concluded peaceful general elections.

Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, on Saturday, stated this at the 74th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Accra, Ghana.

Ekweremadu, while lamenting the Burundi uprisings, maintained that both constitutionalism and submission to the will of the people were fundamental to the peace, stability, and deepening of democracy in Africa.

He said, “We must learn to respect the views of our people. You can say whatever you want in court; you can say whatever you want in parliament. But so long as you don’t respect the views of the ordinary people, we will continue to have crises on our hands.

“The crisis in Burundi is totally unacceptable and uncalled for. African leaders must act fast and steer that country away from further avoidable crisis, especially considering the fact that Burundi is yet to fully recover from a prolonged civil war.”

Meanwhile, while declaring open the 74th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Kadre Ouedraogo, said President Goodluck Jonathan and Nigerians had made Africa proud.

In an address read by the Vice President of the Commission, Mr. Toga McIntosh, Ouedraogo said, “The presidential election in Nigeria ended on an exemplary note and was hailed by all, even those far beyond West Africa’s shores.”

He commended Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari for the excellent victory delivered to the Nigerian people.

He said, “I sincerely thank them for the positive picture of West Africa they have presented to the rest of the world. I am hopeful that the Nigerian example will spread throughout our region for the rest of the year and thereafter.”