Posted by From Josephine Lohor in Abuja on
The Federal Government has recalled, with immediate effect, Nigeria's Ambassador to Togo, Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, and imposed restrictions on visit of Togolese officials to Nigeria.
* Restricts visit of Togolese officials
The Federal Government has recalled, with immediate effect, Nigeria's Ambassador to Togo, Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, and imposed restrictions on visit of Togolese officials to Nigeria.
This is on the heels of an invitation by leaders of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Togolese leaders for a parley in Niamey, Niger Republic, on the political crisis in Lome.
The recall of the ambassador, the federal government stated, is as a result of the "unfolding political situation in the Republic of Togo."
Nigeria's position, which was made available in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday, also follows the country's withdrawal from the ECOWAS delegation to Togo after the plane carrying the advance team of President Olusegun Obasanjo was Thursday refused permission to land in Lome, prior to Obasanjo's planned visit to that country the next day.
The statement by the Federal Government on the Togolese situation reads in part: "Following the cancellation today (February 11, 2005) of the visit by the five ECOWAS leaders to Lome, Togo, the Federal Government urges the Togolese authorities immediately to return the country to the status quo ante.
"Further to demonstrate its resolve and in consonance with the decisions of the Extraordinary Summit of ECOWAS leaders, held in Niamey, Niger Republic on Wednesday 9th February, 2005, the Federal Government is immediately recalling its Ambassador from Togo and imposing restrictions on visits of Togolese officials to Nigeria, including military and civilian.
"The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to make it clear that it would hold the Togolese authorities fully responsible for any breakdown of law and order in that country or any acts of intimidation on residents in Togo as those acts would be deemed hostile and treated as such," it added.
The Senior Special Assistant on Media Matters to President Obasanjo, Mrs Oluremi Oyo, while giving further insight into the President's decision to withdraw from the ECOWAS talks in Togo, stated that "President Obasanjo has advised the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS, Mr Mohammed Chambas of his decision not to participate in the delegation of leaders scheduled to visit Togo, Friday.
"President Obasanjo's advisory is expected to be communicated to the Chairman of ECOWAS, President Mamadou Tandja of Niger, and the other members of the delegation, Presidents of Benin Republic, Ghana and Mali."
Oyo recalled that "the delegation of Presidents was to meet in Lome Friday with all stakeholders to the crisis including the parliament and the military, to convey the ECOWAS position reached Wednesday during a summit of leaders in Niamey, Niger Republic.
"The summit had condemned the coup in Togo that followed the death Saturday of President Gnassingbe Eyadema. It also expressed strong displeasure at the unconstitutional actions that led to the installation of Faure Gnassingbe, son of the late President as the new Togolese leader.
"The summit warned that unless the Togolese authorities reverted to the status quo ante, sanctions will be imposed by the ECOWAS, the AU, the UN and the international community. The latest action by the Togolese authorities might therefore compel the full commencement of the sanction," she added.
Meanwhile, a high power delegation of ECOWAS Heads of State including President Olusegun Obasanjo which met yesterday in Cotonou, Benin Republic, has "mandated" the president of Niger and Chairman of ECOWAS, Mammadou Tandja, Nigerien capital today to deliver to them in person, decisions taken by the extraordinary summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held on Wednesday concerning the situation in Togo.
The ECOWAS leaders, comprising President Tandja, Kerekou of Benin Republic, John Kufuor of Ghana, Toure of Mali, have also called upon the de facto Togolese authorities 'to render an immediate and unqualified apology to President Obasanjo, the government and the people of Nigeria for this unfriendly act."
This "unfriendly act" was the refusal of the Togolese authorities to allow the advance party of President Obasanjo to land in that country for yesterday's ECOWAS mission to Togo.
A communiqu? issued at the end of the high level ECOWAS Heads of State meeting in Cotonou which was made available yesterday evening to THISDAY, notes that "the high level delegation of ECOWAS Heads of State comprising President Mamadou Tandja, chairman of ECOWAS, Kerekou, Kufuor, Toure and Obasanjo met in Cotonou, Benin Republic on Friday, February 11, 2005, en route to Lome, Togo, to deliver a message to the regime in Togo.
"On arrival in Cotonou, they were informed that the Togolese regime had moved from Lome to Kara and had invited the high level delegation to meet them there. The Heads of State decided not to go to Kara and instead asked the regime to return to Lome where they were still prepared to go and meet them."
The communiqu? also said that "the Heads of State expressed deep concern about the continuing constitutional crisis in Togo, in particular the refusal by the authorities to reverse the coup d'etat. They reiterated their total rejection of the coup d'etat and once again called upon the authorities in Togo to reverse their unconstitutional actions."
"They mandated President Tandja, Chairman of ECOWAS to invite the Togolese authorities to Niamey on Saturday, February 12, 2005, to deliver to them the decisions taken by the extraordinary summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government on Wednesday, February 9, 2005 concerning the situation in Togo.
"Failure by the de factor authorities in Togo to respond to the invitation to Niamey by Saturday, February 12, 2005 will lead to the automatic and immediate imposition of sanctions by ECOWAS," it said.