Nigerian President warns Niger President

  1. Posted on Thursday 6 August 2009 - 14:31
    Murtala
    Image of Murtala
    Murtala Mohamed Kamara, AfricaNews reporter in Freetown, Sierra Leone
    Nigeria's President Umaru Yar'Adua has warned neighboring Niger President Mamadou Tandja on his plan to amend his country's constitution to stay in power for a third term and beyond. "I must express our deep concern about the political situation in Niger, with respect to the self-succession plan."
    nigerian president
    Yar’Adua added: “As you are aware, Nigeria and Niger are brother nations with very special ties and whatever affects one affects the other.”

    President Tandja term of office expires in December but he is machinating a plan to amend the constitution to allow him another term, a move which has faced sharp criticism among the international community. Tandja has already won over 95% in a referendum which was organized earlier on the issue but political commentators say the President ‘might likely succeed in his ambition’.

    Yar’Adua told out-going ambassador to Niger Moussa Elhadji Ibrahim: "That is why anything that can lead to crisis in Niger Republic is not something we can shy away from. While we wish President Tandja well, this is not what can be described as an internal affair of Niger Republic, because within ECOWAS and the African Union, we have subscribed to certain principles like democracy and good governance."

    According to a report in This Day, Ibrahim thanked the Nigerian President and the people of that country for the "excellent cooperation and warmth," he enjoyed during his eight years of office in that country.

    Nigeria borders Niger through the North of the country. The two country’s which have enjoyed bilateral relations in the past shares similar cultures and traditions.

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