A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd), on Thursday urged the African Union (AU) to facilitate the return of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The ex-army chief made the call at the 2026 Voice of Nigeria (VON) Forum themed: “51 Years of Nigeria’s Role in Deepening Democratic Stability in ECOWAS,” held in Abuja.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger officially left the ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, after they raised concerns over access to justice for the victims of serious human rights abuses in the countries.
Buratai said the mediation of the AU was necessary to restore unity and strengthen regional cooperation in West Africa.
“As it is today, we cannot say ECOWAS is united unless those three states are brought back into the fold.
“We are all of the same umbilical cord, and as it is civil, we are already in, what you call the incubator or intensive care unit. But by and large, I believe diplomacy will work,” he stated.
Buratai, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, stressed that diplomacy remained the most viable option for resolving the current regional impasse.
He also urged the League of African Ambassadors to work hard to ensure the return of the three states into the fold of ECOWAS.
“Nigeria has sacrificed and invested in blood, treasure, and diplomacy to defend democracy. Our stability is inseparable from the security of our neighbours.
“The African Union has consistently recognised this interdependence, working alongside ECOWAS to build a peaceful and integrated West Africa.
“And of course, without the voice, all those policies, all those aspirations would not have the desired impact,” he added.
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, urged media organisations to uphold professionalism and balance in reporting anti-corruption activities.
Olukoyede said responsible journalism was essential in strengthening public confidence in anti-graft efforts.
He recalled a case investigated by the commission where a Nigerian took about $35 million cash meant for the establishment of a modular refinery from the nation’s treasury.
