This Day (Lagos)

West Africa: Guinea - Ecowas Meeting in Abuja Now Tomorrow

Olawale Olaleye

9 January 2009


Accra — The extra-ordinary meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) summoned by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua over the coup in Guinea will hold tomorrow in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Ghanaian new President, Professor John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills, will also attend as part of his first official assignment since he assumed office a couple of days ago. He would join his counterparts from the sub-region in Abuja.

Atta Mills who will be in Nigeria for the one-day meeting is also scheduled to leave immediately for South Africa where another personal engagement has been scheduled for him.

Apart from local state matters that Atta Mills has been trying to attend since Wednesday that he was sworn in, tomorrow's meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, is believed to mark his first major official assignment, albeit on the international scene.

Yar'Adua had early in the week summoned an extra-ordinary emergency meeting of the West African leaders following the coup in Guinea.

The Nigerian President is said to be poised to mobilise his counterparts in the sub-region to checkmate their Libyan and Senegalese counterparts, Muammar Gaddafi and Abdoulaye Wade, who are believed to be supporting the new military regime in Guinea.

THISDAY had reported that the ECOWAS extra-ordinary meeting was scheduled for today under the leadership of Yar'Adua, the meeting will however hold tomorrow in Abuja.

Yar'Adua aims at getting other leaders of the sub-region to oppose the subterranean support being given to the Guinean coup leaders by Gaddafi and Wade.

The Nigerian President is said to have insisted that the encouragement being given to the Guinean coup leaders is against the African Union Constitutional Act and that African Leaders should not seek to extend their influence in the continent by promoting subversion of democracy.

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Author: N/a
Fri Jan 9 15:47:44 2009

When did this coup happen??? This is wht I say african leaders too slow to respond DO NOT PRIORITISE THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE!!!

Author: mr00785
Fri Jan 9 15:50:24 2009

President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua:

I believe many share your ambitions to see Africa becomes a democratic continent. I too, look forward to that day, when Africa shall transform. However, you need to fully understand the democratic process that it does not happen or takes place overnight. It is a process that has many phases and each phase has unique challenges that need be corrected before proceeding to next phase. There are also price to pay when democrarcy is impose or rush upon a nation, as can been seen in Iraq and other parts of the world. The process has… [Read Full Text]

Author: democratictrack
Fri Jan 9 17:43:39 2009

ECOWAS should not waste time with the dark forces of backwardness that are hell bent on holding Africa to selfish and despotic forms of governance. ECOWAS should be part of putting the continent on a meaningful and effective fast track for democracy.

Democracy is a way of living and it is always work in progress. It is not a utopian destination or a state to be attained as the pretentious communists lie about their communist state.

The work of democratising Africa must start now: cease the moment. The notion that one day Africa will wake up and find itself ready… [Read Full Text]

Author: jallohlaw
Sun Jan 11 13:03:14 2009

Femme, Schizo-bipolar, supreme soupist, SLYVIA OLAYINKA BLYDEN, the valley of NONSENSICAL TWADDLE, everybody who knows you knows that the three posts supra were posted by 'you' (you also present "multiple personality disorder, according to pyschiatric records in Gettysburg, MD, USA, Harare, Dubai, Freetown, London and the Gambia).

Femme Schizo-bipolar Slyvia we have had enough of your femmish NONSENSE, which shall remain under that rubric until the second coming.

Nonetheless, NONSENSE, all the same.

Isn't it time for this little, girly pest of soupist West Africa be involuntarily committed, for her own good?

Anyway, the wobbly tail of the soupist thieves… [Read Full Text]

Author: kaparah
Fri Jan 9 22:09:58 2009

Well said, Mr. 00789. I am with you all the way and Bravo to the people of Guinea for been patient to work, proactively, with this benevolent junta so y'all design, collectively, the best approach that fits your unique culture. May your patience be rewarded, handsomely. Good Luck!

Author: wan
Sat Jan 10 00:55:53 2009

Where were African leader when Conte was killings his countrymates.there was no democracy in guinea before.Changing constitution to remain in power for life is the same as a coup d,tat.Why it is that the president of Nigeria has not condem Omar bongo,paul biya,the chad president,the congolese president,Guinea Equatoria etc etc.for changing constitutions to be life presidents?Let him leave the Guinea people alone.The junta say they will hand over power in 2 years and almost 90 percents of Guineans support them.what is Yar Adua buiness?Charity begins at home let him start by condeming his neighbour,he is surrounded by ruthless dictators.

Author: msaieb1008
Sat Jan 10 01:17:14 2009

African leaders need to figure out how to the AU constitution that will limit to presidential terms so that we can avoid countries slipping into civil wars or avoid coups. we need to created an environment where every citizen can have a chance to lead his or her country upon hard work. we dont kneed coups or wars in which innocent lives will be waisted, in which innocent people will be stucked with hunger, we dont need situations that will bring genocide, or cause displacement of our people. we need a situation like in Ghana and a few other… [Read Full Text]

Author: wan
Sat Jan 10 10:22:20 2009

msaieb1008 :your comment is wonderfull.I have nothing to add.



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