By Milcah Tanimu

Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice President, has voiced apprehension regarding the security implications of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso’s decision to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Describing the move as both “concerning” and indicative of a “serious diplomatic meltdown,” Atiku Abubakar, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the previous general election, shared his concerns on his social media handle.

Expressing the need for Nigeria to prioritize national security interests, particularly in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping, Atiku urged a careful assessment of the situation arising from the withdrawal of the three countries from ECOWAS.

In a related development, Peter Obi’s Grassroot Movement characterized the planned withdrawal of the three nations from ECOWAS as a “disintegration” of the regional economic bloc. The group pointed fingers at Chief Bola Tinubu, asserting that he was solely responsible for the breakdown of ECOWAS. They highlighted concerns about the impact of military coups in the affected countries and attributed the challenges to poor governance in democratically elected West African governments.

The Grassroot Movement claimed that trouble began when ECOWAS responded to the surge in military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea. They accused President Tinubu of intervening personally, aligning with the interests of France and the USA, which they asserted were driven by economic considerations.

As tensions rise and diplomatic dynamics shift in the region, the withdrawal of these nations from ECOWAS has triggered discussions on the potential consequences for regional stability and cooperation.