ECOWAS: Unconstitutional change of government threatening democratic gains – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the new ECOWAS Commission management team led by Dr. Omar Alieu Toure to complete the review and harmonisation of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the sub-regional body.

He also raised concern over the threat of unconstitutional change of governments to democratic governance in ECOWAS member states.

President Buhari stated this in his welcome address in Abuja, during the 62nd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

President Buhari paid glowing tribute to President Kuffour Addo-Nana of Ghana, the immediate past Chairperson of the Authority for his services and congratulated President Umaro Embalo of Guinea Bissau on assuming the leadership of the sub-regional organization.

On democracy, President Buhari  said despite the efforts of ECOWAS leaders towards deepening the system of government, the region suffered some unpleasant setbacks:m more especially the severe challenging threats from unconstitutional change of government as witnessed in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea.

Earlier at the official groundbreaking ceremony of the new ECOWAS Headquarters Building, President Buhari had expressed his appreciation to the Government of the People’s Republic of China, “for their financial and technical contribution to ensuring that a monument of this nature is built on behalf of our region.”

The building, to be named the EYE OF WEST AFRICA, with an expected completion period of Twenty-Six months, would house the three major ECOWAS Institutions, namely the ECOWAS Commission, the Community Court of Justice and the Parliament.Kano Peace Committee urges Politician