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ECOWAS: Lawyers differ over lifting of sanctions on Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger

Justice Osai Ahiakwo

By Akpan David, Calabar 

Two prominent lawyers and public commentators, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla and Justice Osai Ahiakwo have expressed differences over the lifting of sanctions by ECOWAS against Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. 

The sanctions were lifted at the end of the extraordinary session of the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS on Saturday in Abuja. President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray,  said the decision to lift sanctions on was based on the need to maintain regional unity and security.

Obono-Obla said it is bad for the principle of  international law as enshrined in the ECOWAS Treaty and Protocol 1991 that military take over or unconstitutional take over of democratically elected civilian governments in the west Africa sub-region would not be acceptable, unconstitutional, illegal and null and void. 

“It would present ECOWAS as a toothless bull dog that can only bark but not bite. 

“It would be a sad commentary and it would send a positive signal to military adventurists in the West Africa sub-region that they can overthrow constitutionally elected governments and nothing would happen.”

The former presidential  aide maintained that it also would be a danger to democracy in the sub region and taking it to thirty years when military dictatorship and adventurism was the vogue in the region. It is extremely saddened that ECOWAS would even contemplate giving these military adventurists such a leeway.

On the other hand, Justice Ahiakwo has commended both ECOWAS and General Yakubu Gowon, the remaining founding father of ECOWAS who intervened.
 
The three countries have been adamant and bent on exiting the body and form their 3-state Sahel economic bloc.

Gowon wrote a letter to the members and leadership of ECOWAS last week stating importance of the bloc, why they formed it in 1975 and why the three should be encouraged to stay on.  

Ahiakwo said in a statement that the lifting of the suspension is influenced by the foreseeable challenges that the West African nations will be faced with, advising that it should not be delayed as ECOWAS has a common purpose for the economic integration of member nations. 

“The step taken by ECOWAS is a welcomed development that signals the readiness of this very powerful sub-regional organization to reposition itself in ensuring good governance, promote healthy economic activities, and of course, provide humanitarian services to member nations in dire need of support. 

“Restoring the membership status of these countries is an indication that ECOWAS is ready to promote peace, stability, and development in West Africa. 

“This means that all sanctions against these three countries are declared nullity.”

According to the lawyer, the impending action is the ideal diplomatic approach in showing empathy for the people, as well as, preventing further destabilization of the running of civilian government.
 

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